Iran International
Ordinary Iranians are buckling under the physical and psychological strain of surging prices, toxic air and deepening food and medicine insecurity, officials and experts in Tehran have warned.
The government’s decision to strip subsidized foreign exchange from the import chain for a range of essential goods—including rice, oil, red meat, animal feed and medicines—has pushed living costs sharply higher.
Non-subsidized petrol prices are due to rise later this week, adding to fears of further inflation.
“Without economic security, psychological security cannot exist,” former public health official Naser Ghasemzad told the moderate daily Shargh on Tuesday.
“Citizens must feel confident that if they fall ill, the health system will support them. They need to know that prices are predictable and the economy is relatively stable.”
‘Widespread depression’
Inflation and collapsing purchasing power have pushed protein and dairy out of reach for many families. Even staples such as rice and bread are becoming unaffordable.
Ghasemzad pointed to alarming trends in the capital. “Around 30 to 40 percent of residents suffer from mild neurological disorders such as anxiety and depression. This is not a small number and reflects the widespread pressures that daily life imposes on people.”
The government insists electronic subsidy cards will cushion the blow. But many say the support falls far short of rising prices and that handouts may help only if regularly adjusted for inflation—a tall order given the government’s cash constraints.
“People wake up every day with new worries—from the exchange rate that affects all prices to the possibility of school or office closures because of pollution,” Tehran resident Arman told Iran International. “The stress is relentless.”
Fouad, a father in the capital, describes an “unending cycle.”
“Every time we find a solution to one problem, like buying equipment to secure emergency electricity, another crisis emerges. It creates a sense of helplessness and mental exhaustion.”
‘Medicine running out’
Drug shortages and soaring prices are intensifying the pressure, particularly for patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Akbar Abdollahi of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration recently warned that factories now hold “less than one month’s supply” of some essential medicines.
Distribution centers have under two months, and pharmacies under three. Twenty-one hospital drugs are already in shortage, and 800 more face potential disruption because of currency and liquidity constraints.
“Given current conditions, shortages could worsen next year,” said Ebrahim Hashemi, chairman of the Iranian Drug Distributors Association.
For those reliant on specialized treatment, the situation is becoming desperate.
“The government’s removal of subsidies is like stamping a death sentence on patients,” said Younes Arab, head of the Thalassemia Patients Association, warning that some families are contemplating selling organs to pay for their children’s medication.
On the verge
Social pressures are adding further strain.
Ultra-hardliners are pushing renewed hijab enforcement, and authorities are targeting businesses that fail to comply.
The government of Masoud Pezeshkian has also failed to deliver on promises to lift internet filtering.
It is an intense and dangerous climate, sociologist Iman Jajarmi warned in an interview with the Shargh newspaper on Tuesday. “Even minor social issues can escalate into political crises.”
