Iran’s state newspaper Arman-e Emrooz recently reported, “The head of the Planning and Budget Organization claims that air travel is a luxury and only a select group of society can afford it. He states, ‘The entry of foreign airlines establishing flights on domestic routes has depleted the country’s foreign exchange reserves and goes against many principles of the constitution.'”
Given the country’s economic situation and the fact that the poverty line exceeds 20 million tomans, the remarks from the head of this organization are not far from reality. Nowadays, many goods are considered luxuries due to their high prices.
Recent reports in the regime’s media even suggest that inflation and soaring prices have turned something as basic as offal soup into a luxury food. This speaks volumes about the stagnation of the country’s economy.
Arman-e Emrooz also notes the skyrocketing prices of meat, which have surged by 300% in the past five years, making it unaffordable for a significant portion of the population, effectively transforming it into a luxury item.
However, this luxury status does not apply to the regime’s mullahs and corrupt officials, who, with their repressive tactics, continue to lead luxurious lives while the majority of the population struggles.
Furthermore, Arman-e Emrooz points out that housing has become a luxury beyond reach for many, to the extent that even in reruns of old TV series, the prices of houses are censored due to their unattainable nature.
Since the onset of Khomeini’s monopoly and unprogressive rule, the Iranian people, who lived in poverty during the Shah’s regime, have seen their situation worsen. In recent years, nearly all goods in the mullahs-rule Iran have become out of reach due to their exorbitant prices. This has pushed many oppressed and deprived Iranians below the poverty line, turning the acquisition of basic goods into a distant dream.
Regarding air travel, Arman-e Emrooz reports, “In 2022, there were only around 27 million air travelers, accounting for a mere 27% of travel compared to land travel.”
The exorbitant cost of flight tickets underscores their luxury status, forcing people to endure long hours of travel on roads known for their danger and have become famous as ‘death roads’ among the people and even the regime’s media in an age when road construction is considered a fundamental facility that every government should provide for its citizens.
However, high prices of air travel have deprived the people of Iran of this safe alternative.
Arman reports, “In 2023, about 1.2 billion passengers traveled through European airports, marking a 40% increase from 2022 when the figure was 800 million passengers. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air travel in America accounts for over 90% of all travel.”
When the head of the program and budget of a regime describes air travel as a luxury, it is a stark reminder of the dire situation in Iran. As long as the mullahs’ rule persists, even the simple act of breathing may become a luxury.
The people of Iran continue to endure hardships under one of the most oppressive regimes in the country’s history. The crumbling economy has severely restricted the ability to purchase every day goods for the majority of Iranians, with most of these goods now classified as luxuries.
