Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a prominent reformist politician and senior aide to former President Mohammad Khatami, published photos on social media showing that he was in hospital with injuries after unknown individual tried to snatch his mobile phone in the street.
Recounting the incident, Abtahi stated, "I was walking on the sidewalk holding my mobile phone. When I reached the intersection, two individuals on a motorcycle rushed to snatch my phone."
The altercation left Abtahi with injuries, including 10 stitches on his eyebrow and a wound on his chest. The incident sheds light on the escalating issue of cell phone robberies in Iran, a trend closely associated with rising inflation and poverty plaguing the nation.
In recent years, Iran has witnessed a surge in street crimes and robberies, a phenomenon linked to deep-rooted poverty exacerbated by economic sanctions, mismanagement, and political instability. The growing chasm between the affluent and the impoverished has pushed many into financial hardship, driving some towards criminal activities as a desperate means of survival.
Because of near 50-percent annual inflation, imported items such as mobile phones have become expensive and can fetch quick cash for robbers.
The allure of quick profits has also fueled the proliferation of cell phone theft. Criminals perceive stolen devices as valuable commodities that can be easily sold on the black market or through clandestine networks, fetching substantial sums of money.
