Iranians stagger under soaring cost of living after seven months of war with the US
How far economic strain may push Iran towards diplomatic compromise is unclear, as it tightens its own stranglehold on Gulf energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up oil and gas prices.
Iranian citizens are struggling under the weight of soaring living costs following seven months of conflict with the United States. The US blockade has crippled the state's main source of income - oil exports. The effects are felt across various aspects of daily life. A restaurant owner, Behnam Riazi, stated that he cannot raise his prices because his customers cannot afford to pay more.
An elderly housewife in northern Iran cannot afford medicine or necessities for her elderly mother who has Alzheimer's disease. A teacher, A.J., cannot afford the medicine his mother needs and has moved in with his mother and siblings. In Sanandaj, a psychotherapist has given up smoking due to the high cost. Those who can afford to use the black market find that the prices have increased even further.
The economic strain has led to concerns of unrest, prompting the Iranian leaders to crack down on dissent. The conflict has also resulted in job losses across the private sector, with many Iranians losing their jobs even though their contracts had only recently been renewed. Those who can afford it are moving to cheaper areas outside the capital.
The situation has led to a significant decrease in consumer spending, with shop owners reporting that their customers have reduced their purchases.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
