Protests have erupted across Iran in response to a severe cost of living crisis, with the value of the U.S. dollar reaching an unprecedented 1.4 million Iranian rials. Demonstrations, which began earlier this week, have rapidly spread from urban centers to rural areas, where residents are experiencing the most significant impacts of the nation’s failing economy.
As inflation continues to rise sharply, President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed a willingness to engage with protesters. However, he acknowledged the limitations of his administration in addressing the plummeting value of the rial, which has reached record lows. In Tehran, angry consumers and shopkeepers have taken to the streets, voicing their frustrations over government mismanagement, and their grievances have echoed nationwide.
The economic crisis has been exacerbated by soaring prices for basic goods. According to Iran International, the cost of local staple Tarom Hashemi rice has surged to approximately 4 million rials per kilogram, equating to about $3.56 per pound. This represents a staggering 230% increase from the same period last year, contributing to an overall consumer price inflation rate of 48.6%.
One shopper in Karaj expressed the disillusionment felt by many, stating, “[Ayatollah] Ali Khamenei has spent over four decades chasing war, missiles, and chanting, ‘Death to this or that.’ Now we can’t even afford rice.” The soaring prices have also affected gasoline, traditionally viewed as a basic right by Iranians, leading to outrage and prompting the government to implement new subsidies in an attempt to alleviate public discontent.
As protests continue, significant disruptions have occurred in key areas like the bazaars, where many citizens purchase daily necessities. Business operations, universities, and government offices have been shut down, and demonstrators have begun to turn Khamenei’s chants against him, shouting, “Death to the dictator.”
While protests in Tehran have slowed, they have intensified in other regions, leading to violence. State media reported three deaths resulting from clashes between protesters and security forces, including a 21-year-old volunteer officer from the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij force, who was reportedly killed during a protest in Lorestan province. Saeed Pourali, a deputy governor, described the situation, noting that “the protests that have occurred are due to economic pressures, inflation, and currency fluctuations.”
As the unrest continues, the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights confirmed the deaths of two additional protesters in Lordegan. In a bid to deflect blame, Pezeshkian has suggested that external factors, including foreign interference, are fueling the unrest. “Right now, the enemy has placed most of its hopes on knocking us down through economic pressure,” he stated at a business forum in Tehran. He emphasized the resilience of the Iranian people, asserting that “if we remain determined, united, and committed to working together, it would be impossible for them to bring Iran to its knees.”
As the situation develops, the Iranian government faces increasing pressure to address the economic challenges that have sparked widespread civil unrest. With public anger growing, the path forward remains uncertain.
