Financial hardship and poverty are forcing some Iranian youths to sell their organs, creating a market that now includes Generation Z. Not only those born in the 1980s, but also those born in the 2000s, are resorting to selling kidneys for 300 to 600 million tomans.

A report by the state-run daily Tejarat News revealed that young people born in the 2000s have entered the organ trade. This generation has little hope for the job market and sees no future in higher education. They are now searching advertisements for buyers, willing to sell a part of their bodies.

Financial need connects many organ sellers and buyers. This market deals in kidneys, bone marrow, and other organs, and involves people from all over Iran, including Shiraz, Mashhad, Urmia, and others.

The Iranian Organ Donation Association reports that there are currently 25,000 people waiting for organ transplants. Many patients struggle to acquire organs through donation and turn to the black market for transplants at a discounted price.

The organ market now encompasses young people born in the 2000s. Advertisements for kidney sales are on the rise. Organ donors seem to receive money faster when selling kidneys compared to other organs.

Tejarat News quoted several teenagers:

  • Hamid, a 16-year-old, is looking for a kidney recipient. He claims to have a positive A blood type and is willing to sell his kidney for a slightly lower price due to his age. He emphasizes his need for money and assures readers that he has undergone testing and parental consent is available.
  • Sina, a 19-year-old, also needs money and is selling his O+ blood type kidney for 450 million tomans.
  • Behnam, another 19-year-old, is searching for a buyer. He has the necessary tests done, has an AB+ blood type, and claims to be completely healthy. He has a notarized consent form and asks for 450 million tomans for his kidney.
  • Simin, born in 2002, seeks to sell her O+ blood type kidney for no less than 400 million tomans due to financial difficulties.
  • Saeed, a 20-year-old, is willing to sell his kidney for 360 million tomans to afford mortgaging his house.

While the market includes sellers born in the 1970s and 1980s, their prices are similar to those of young adults.

Acquiring a kidney is not difficult. Advertisements for kidney purchases are often found near hospitals and medical centers.

Tehran is a hub for such advertisements. One area known for bringing sellers and buyers together is the Taleghani intersection. The walls of Hosseini Alley are plastered with phone numbers of buyers and sellers. Ads are typically brief, listing only a phone number, the organ being sold, and the blood type.

Online advertising also plays a role. For several years, organ recipients and donors from different cities have used online platforms to connect. These advertisements often include the seller’s city along with other details.