Retirees affiliated with Iran’s Social Security Organization, the country’s largest state-run pension fund, held protests in multiple cities today (Sunday), including Tehran, Ahvaz, and Shush, demanding better pensions and improved living conditions as inflation and economic hardships persist, according to Iran International.
Decrying low pensions, rising costs, and unfulfilled government promises, protestors held banners with slogans such as “Healthcare and livelihood are our absolute rights,” “our income is in rials; expenses are in dollars,” "“Iran is rich, yet incompetent officials have destroyed it,” and “Warmongering is enough; our tables are empty.”
This protest is one of hundreds and perhaps thousands of demonstrations held by pensioners, nurses, farmers, workers, and others over Iran's ever-worsening economic conditions under the weight of US sanctions, government focus on funding proxy terrorist armies across the Middle East, and lack of attention to economic infrastructure and policy.
According to the Iranian Health Minister, some 30,000 doctors in all fields now refuse to practice medicine in the country due to the "extremely low rates" fixed by the government every year. Medical products are also becoming scarce and more expensive.
Meanwhile, about 50% of those aged 24-50 are unemployed, and persistent fuel shortages caused by sanctions and aging infrastructure are leading not only to frequent blackouts but also shutdowns of factories and trouble for farmers.
Iran is currently suffering from over 40% inflation, cutting deep into the cost of living of families and workers throughout the country.
The Iranian currency, the rial, is also in freefall. Over the past few months, it has lost much of its value, and the official exchange rate has not kept up with the effective exchange rate on the black market.
President-elect Trump has promised to reimpose "maximum pressure" sanctions on Iran, which were partially lifted under the Biden administration in hopes of a new nuclear deal, which never materialized.
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