US official says talks with Iran remain open but other options on table - AP

Parents responding to an inquiry described repeated requests for payments ranging from stationery and cleaning products to multimillion-rial fees, despite government assurances that contributions to public schools must be voluntary.

"Only teachers' salaries are left for them to collect from parents," one parent wrote after being asked to contribute money for paper.

The accounts contrast with Education Minister Alireza Kazemi's September 20 announcement that public schools were prohibited from charging families for enrollment or the start of the academic year.

Financial contributions from parents must be entirely voluntary, Kazemi said.

Parents asked to cover utility bills and cleaning supplies

Families described being required to cover routine school expenses, including water, electricity, gas, cleaning supplies and equipment repairs.

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  Parents lament hidden school fees in Iran

"The government provides no assistance to schools," several respondents wrote in messages.

At a school meeting in early October, parents were told the government had no budget and public schools would have to operate with financial support from families, one parent said.

The school subsequently presented a list of monthly expenses covering water, electricity, drinking-water facilities, cleaning, heating and cooling equipment.

At another school, parents were asked to pay 2.5 million rials each to purchase paper.

Other families described requests for money to buy whiteboard markers, light bulbs, A4 paper, garbage bags and even to repair a broken classroom door.

One mother said her child's school demanded money for hand soap despite toilets being so dirty and unusable that her child avoided using them throughout the five-hour school day.

Parents have also been asked to purchase materials for basic science experiments because schools lack adequate laboratory equipment, according to another account.

Some schools have sought contributions for government and religious ceremonies, requesting money and sweets from families.

Voluntary contributions become compulsory payments

Some families described payments equivalent to tuition fees at public schools, even though the schools are not permitted to charge compulsory enrollment fees.

One parent said their child's public school collected 50 million rials despite having virtually no facilities.

Iran's minimum monthly wage was set at 166 million rials for 2026, equivalent to about $61 at an exchange rate of 2.72 million rials to the dollar.

Another described a public school with approximately 300 students attending in two shifts that collected between 17 million and 20 million rials from each student, regardless of the family's financial circumstances.

Examination paper costs were charged separately, the parent said.

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Several parents said schools refused to release students' report cards until additional payments were made.

The accounts contradict the education ministry's position that contributions must be optional.

Government funding shortages should not result in financial pressure on families, Akbar Pouladi, a member of parliament's education committee, said on August 26, criticizing compulsory payments at some schools.

In some cases, families said enrollment or the distribution of textbooks was conditional on payment.

Higher payments, inadequate facilities

Despite the growing financial demands, some parents said school conditions had not improved.

Nearly two months into the academic year, one parent said their child's school still lacked a proper door, whiteboard, curtains and enough desks, even though families were being charged to cover operating expenses.

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  Iran students go without as elite schools charge billions

A teacher said the school where they worked had relied on parental contributions for years.

At the beginning of each academic year, administrators told parents that without their financial support, the school could not remain operational, the teacher said.

Messages describe mounting financial pressures on workers, pensioners, students, single mothers and small business owners, with some unable to meet basic needs and others facing unpaid wages and declining sales.

"I went to buy a piece of flat bread. All I got was a piece the size of my palm for 400,000 rials. I don't know how we're supposed to live," one resident wrote.

Iran's minimum monthly wage for 2026 was set at approximately 166 million rials ($61 at the current exchange rate of 2.72 million rials per US dollar).

A pensioner said their monthly income was insufficient to cover even 10 days of living expenses, illustrating the widening gap between household earnings and everyday costs.

Iran's annual inflation rate reached 76.8% in October, with prices rising 4.4% from the previous month, according to figures released by the Statistical Center of Iran.

The 88.7% year-on-year inflation rate means households had to spend an average of 88.7% more than in October 2025 to purchase the same basket of goods and services.

Food prices hit small businesses

Rising food prices have affected not only consumers but also small businesses facing a sharp decline in demand.

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"Before the war, I used to sell 70 chickens every day, but because of rising prices, daily sales have dropped to 12," the owner of a poultry and egg shop in Tabriz told Iran International.

The decline represents an approximately 83% reduction in the number of chickens sold daily, reflecting the impact of inflation and weakened consumer purchasing power.

Families struggle with school and clothing costs

The rising cost of education has added to the financial burden on families, with students describing difficulties obtaining basic school supplies.

"I need stationery to study, but prices have risen so much that I can't even afford a notebook," one student wrote to Iran International.

Education recorded the highest monthly price increase among major household expenditure categories in October, rising 23.5%, according to the Statistical Center of Iran.

A mother in Mashhad said she visited a discount clothing store to buy warm clothes for her daughter but found that a hoodie and trousers cost 35 million rials ($13).

Unpaid wages compound housing pressures

Alongside inflation, delayed salary payments have deepened financial difficulties for workers already struggling with rent and family expenses.

An employee of Atlas Air said outstanding wages had not been paid, leaving the family struggling to meet its financial obligations.

"We are tenants, and we also cover the expenses of our family and our parents," the employee wrote to Iran International.

A woman who heads her household and works in the oil industry's healthcare sector said her salary had not been paid by October 29. Officials attributed the delay to a shortage of funds, she added.

Economic hardship has intensified alongside currency depreciation, inflation and declining purchasing power, while the Islamic Republic continues to pursue a confrontational foreign policy, particularly toward the United States and Israel.

The figures come from an analysis of 39 studies conducted across Iran, which estimated the incidence of self-immolation at approximately 4.5 cases per 100,000 people, Hamid Salehi, head of the Iranian Burn Association, told the ILNA news agency.

"Self-immolation is not merely a medical issue, but a social and public health problem that requires cooperation between the healthcare system, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and institutions responsible for preventing social harm," Salehi said.

The research found that people who attempted self-immolation suffered burns covering an average of 65% of their bodies, with approximately 62% dying after hospitalization.

Salehi described the severity of injuries and death rates as deeply concerning, particularly given the substantial proportion of women and young people among those affected.

The findings were based on previous studies, and an accurate assessment of the present situation would require a comprehensive and up-to-date national registry, Salehi added.

Economic pressures and mental health concerns

The figures come as worsening economic, political and social crises in Iran have heightened concerns about the psychological pressures facing the population.

Iranian society is approaching an emergency in mental health and social welfare, with uncertainty stemming from the country's prolonged state of neither war nor peace placing severe pressure on citizens, Alireza Aghayousefi, head of Iran's Psychology and Counseling Organization, warned on October 25.

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  Iran nearing mental-health emergency, psychology chief says

A person seeking welfare assistance set themselves on fire in protest against a medical committee's decision, Alireza Vahidzadeh, head of the Welfare Organization in Kerman province, said on October 28.

In August, human rights news agency HRANA reported that Souma Moghaddami, an 18-year-old woman from Piranshahr who had been subjected to child marriage, died in hospital from injuries sustained after setting herself on fire.

The cases add to concerns about self-immolation as a form of self-harm linked to wider social and psychological distress.

Acid attacks leave lasting physical and psychological injuries

Chemical burns account for approximately 3% of burn-related hospital visits and admissions in Iran, Salehi said.

Some result from accidents at home or in workplaces, while others stem from deliberate acid attacks and interpersonal violence.

Research conducted in Shiraz found that intentional acid attacks accounted for approximately 29% of chemical burn cases, according to Salehi.

"Although acid attacks are less common than other causes of burns, they are particularly significant because of the severity of physical injuries, permanent disfigurement, facial damage, and psychological and social consequences," Salehi said.

Victims can face years of reconstructive surgery, substantial medical expenses, unemployment and social exclusion.

New acid attack cases continue to be referred to support organizations, while survivors and their families struggle with the long-term consequences of such violence, the Shargh newspaper reported in a September 23 investigation titled Unfinished Wounds.

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  Over a dozen Iranian women and girls killed in 30 days, many by male relatives

The report described how the financial and psychological consequences of acid attacks can transform the lives of victims and their families long after the initial injuries.

Sanctions and inflation hamper burn treatment

Sanctions, inflation and rising prices have made it increasingly difficult for Iranian medical facilities to obtain essential burn treatment supplies, Salehi said.

Specialized burn dressings, medical equipment and certain medications, including antibiotics, have become harder to procure, with shortages and purchasing difficulties worsening over the past year.

The problems add pressure to a healthcare system treating patients who often require extensive medical intervention, prolonged hospitalization and rehabilitation.

Mental health specialists recommend encouraging anyone showing signs of depression or suicidal thoughts to seek support from a trusted healthcare professional, support organization or someone they trust.

Netanyahu's promise to "finish the job" in Iran has offered a ray of hope to some Iranians seeking the end of the Islamic Republic.

But Middle East analysts speaking to Iran International's Eye for Iran podcast challenged the idea that Netanyahu's return is essential to further military action against Tehran, arguing that Israel's political divisions do not necessarily extend to its assessment of the Iranian threat.

Instead, they pointed to President Donald Trump's remaining time in office as a potentially decisive factor in whether Israel and the United States launch another round of strikes against Iran.

Dan Feferman, a Middle East researcher and co-founder of Middle East 24, cautioned against interpreting Israel's political divisions through the traditional American left-right framework.

‘No soft approach on Iran’

He argued that an Israeli government led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, particularly one involving former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, would not necessarily approach the Iranian threat significantly differently from Netanyahu.

The divisions between Israel's political camps extend well beyond Iran, encompassing disputes over Netanyahu's handling of the October 7, 2023, security failures, the subsequent wars and military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Israelis.

Alex Winston, news editor of The Jerusalem Post, offered a similar assessment, arguing that Netanyahu's principal rivals would not necessarily pursue a softer approach toward the Islamic Republic.

But Winston drew an important distinction between confronting the Islamic Republic militarily and assuming responsibility for overthrowing it.

He argued that most Israelis would prefer to support Iranians seeking political change rather than have Israel itself be seen as the country that brought down the Islamic Republic.

That distinction raises a fundamental question about Netanyahu's repeated promise to "finish the job" in Iran: does it mean further weakening the Islamic Republic's military capabilities, or actively pursuing its removal from power?

Why Trump may matter more

Feferman pointed to the remaining two years of Trump's presidency as a potentially decisive window for further military action.

A future American president, particularly a Democrat, would be far less likely to support or participate in additional strikes against Iran, Feferman argued.

Netanyahu appeared to reinforce that argument in his first address following the October 27 election, in which his Likud party emerged as the largest but neither his bloc nor the opposition secured a clear parliamentary majority.

"Iran is weaker than ever, Israel is stronger than ever," he declared. "Israel stands before a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat from Iran once and for all."

The remarks placed Iran at the centre of Netanyahu's plans for another term, even as his path to forming a government remained uncertain.

Israel has its own security interests and military capabilities, but US political backing remains central to its leaders' calculations.

‘We want Bibi’

The Israeli election has nevertheless attracted considerable interest among Iranians hoping for the Islamic Republic's downfall.

Benjamin Basire, an Iranian-born Jewish political analyst living in the United States, said some had followed the vote as though it were their own, contacting him with messages expressing hope that Netanyahu would remain in power.

"We want Bibi. Bibi is our savior," he recalled them saying, adding that some feared Netanyahu's departure would extinguish their hopes of political change.

Netanyahu has already overseen two rounds of Israeli attacks on Iran, in 2025 and 2026, as well as operations that killed senior Iranian military commanders and severely weakened Hezbollah, Tehran's most powerful regional ally.

But with the prospect of another confrontation looming, the question is whether Israel will act again, and with what degree of American support.

Winston suggested that the prospect of renewed fighting was already shaping expectations in Israel, pointing to the approaching US midterm elections as a potential turning point.

"We're already preparing for war," he warned.

"We're ready. That's for sure."

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In an interview with state television Saturday, Rezaei said diplomatic exchanges had been underway for more than a month and Washington had made three proposals, with Tehran now waiting for a US response to its latest position.

“We are now waiting for the Americans' response,” Rezaei said, adding that the Strait of Hormuz “cannot reopen unless Iran's seven conditions are met.”

The comments came as Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha after more than 12 hours of talks between Iranian and Qatari officials in Tehran the previous day. The Qatari team has maintained regular contact with Washington during the discussions, Reuters reported, citing an official briefed on the negotiations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that President Donald Trump had not decided whether to resume military action and that Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were no plans for direct talks with US officials and that consultations over Iran's conditions were continuing through mediators.

US and Iran remain divided over terms

Rezaei said Washington's first response was insufficient and its second proposal was more favorable, but said the United States intended to negotiate and then attack Iran again. A third proposal still contains ambiguities and remains under discussion, he said.

Washington wants Iran to make nuclear concessions as part of restarting talks, while Tehran is seeking measures including the lifting of the US naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian funds and permission to sell oil before negotiations resume, Axios reported.

Reuters reported that Qatar had proposed a seven-day confidence-building plan that Iran considered inadequate. Iran's own proposal includes lifting the blockade, unfreezing assets and approving an Iranian-backed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi similarly tied progress toward negotiations to the Strait of Hormuz, saying Saturday that reopening it on Iran's terms could pave the way for talks with Washington.

Rezaei said Iran's seven conditions were intended to address ambiguities in an earlier Islamabad understanding, including the management of the Strait of Hormuz and the collection of fees.

Vance letter signals new US approach, Rezaei says

Washington's direct outreach to Rezaei has emerged as another channel in the effort to restart negotiations. US Vice President JD Vance sent him a letter at Trump's direction, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter.

Vance also offered to meet Rezaei personally to discuss a negotiated settlement, the Washington Post reported Thursday, citing a US official familiar with the negotiations. Istanbul or Doha would be the most likely venues if a meeting takes place, according to the report.

The Post reported that Vance's letter described Washington's central interest as ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon and called for Tehran to provide representatives empowered to discuss nuclear issues.

The Trump administration views Rezaei, a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, as the key point of contact in Tehran and as someone capable of building consensus behind an agreement to halt Iran's nuclear program, the Post reported.

Rezaei said Saturday that he had read the letter but had not responded, though he described its tone as markedly different from an earlier letter from Trump.

“The tone of the letter has completely changed,” he said.

Trump later said the outreach concerned efforts to help Iran obtain medical supplies.

Nuclear issue remains central to diplomacy

With Iran's nuclear program central to any potential negotiations, Rezaei said Tehran had made no decision to change its nuclear doctrine despite public calls for a shift following attacks on the country's nuclear facilities.

“There has been no new decision regarding a change in the nuclear doctrine,” he said.

Rezaei said Iran was a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and would insist on what he described as its rights under the treaty in any future nuclear talks.

“If there are to be nuclear negotiations, we will demand our rights,” he said.

Rezaei also attacked International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, calling him a “mercenary and servant of the Zionist regime.”
He said Iran's nuclear facilities had undergone extensive inspections and asserted that there had been no diversion in its nuclear program.

He also warned of a severe Iranian response to renewed US military action.

Iran pushes regional security role

Beyond the negotiations with Washington, Rezaei portrayed Iran as seeking a broader role in shaping regional security, pointing to recent four-way talks in Tehran with senior Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials.

Rezaei said the visiting officials voiced strong concerns about Israel, including a warning from Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman that Israel could eventually target Saudi Arabia.

“Prince Khalid said that after you, Israel will go after Turkey, and then it will come after us, Saudi Arabia,” Rezaei said.

Rezaei said the three countries had requested the visit and that all four sides agreed to continue the meetings. “They spoke so firmly against Israel,” he said.

He said Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also raised concerns about Israel, while the Pakistani representative expressed concern about what Rezaei described as growing ties between Hindus and Jews directed against Muslims and Pakistan.

Rezaei said the talks covered the Mecca pact, Yemen and Syria, as well as Israel's presence in southern Lebanon and southern Syria and the situations in Gaza and the West Bank.

“We believe that foreign powers should leave the region and the countries of the region themselves should maintain their security,” Rezaei said.