Iran finds itself entangled in a multifaceted economic crisis, encapsulating livelihood challenges, exacerbated poverty, inequality, homelessness, hunger, unemployment, and a persistent environment of oppression and exploitation. Even the government-controlled media can no longer turn a blind eye to the severity of the situation.
On Saturday, January 27, state-run media issued a stark warning regarding the deepening economic crisis, revealing a startling statistic: over the last three months, a staggering 9 billion dollars in capital has fled the country.
The escalating tensions in the region have driven the price of the dollar to surpass 56 thousand tomans on Thursday, impacting gold and coin rates while causing the stock market index to plummet. Sajjad Burbour, a currency expert, expressed concern, stating, “A capital outflow of 9 billion dollars in three months implies the liquidation of assets—houses, cars, and property—converted into currency to exit the country. Last year’s 10 billion dollars of capital outflow is a significant figure.”
The Central Bank’s balance sheet reveals a 20% reduction in the monetary base, indicating an infusion of 200 trillion tomans of foreign currency into the market, with tomans collected in return. These economic events predate the Gaza war, with the country’s trade balance currently reflecting a negative 10 billion dollars. Experts predict the dollar may surge to 58-60 thousand tomans by year-end, attributing part of the increase to regional conflicts in Yemen, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan.
Approximately 10 million people engage in informal jobs, including internet taxi drivers and social media platform workers. These individuals lack insurance, leave, disability benefits, and any semblance of job security. They operate on the fringes of official statistics, facing potential dismissal and unemployment at any moment. Shockingly, these ten million workers lack a pension and are compelled to toil until their last breath.
The shrinking table of workers is a poignant symbol of their diminishing livelihoods. Recent reports from Bahar News underscore the grim reality—due to soaring prices of dairy and meat, workers are resorting to a diet dominated by bread and sugar, plunging many into a state of poor nutrition and extreme hunger. This paints a stark picture of the living conditions faced by the beleaguered workforce.
