While more than 80% of Iranians live below the poverty line and have not eaten meat or fruit for many months, and bread has become their main food now they are facing a 50% increase in the price of bread. According to the news, this has forced some people to even pay for their bread by installments. A few days ago, this main food of poor people secretly became 50% more expensive, and soon after, the official news of this price increase was announced in the press and media.
Of course, this price increase does not end with bread, and these days, news of a 35% increase in the price of food oil, 72% of the price of sugar, 30% of intercity bus tickets, 35% of cab fares , 30% increase in subway tickets and many other basic items of life were published on medias and websites.
According to the Statistics Center of Iran, the point-to-point inflation rate has now reached more than 48%. This rate is 11 times more than what is in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the salary increase for next year is set at only 26%. The cost of rent has reached such a level that according to Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf (Speaker of Parliament), 35% of the population of Iran’s metropolises were driven to the outskirts of cities due to inability to pay rent. They are living in sheds that are not equipped with minimal living standards.
The fact is that these backbreaker high prices are rooted in the widespread corruption of the entire system of government in Iran. These colossal corruptions have taken place under the supervision of Khamenei and his son Mojtaba and the Revolutionary Guards. Their collective capital is estimated to be more than $ 100 billion. Furthermore, the Revolutionary Guards have taken control of most of the country’s capital in all areas of the economy.
The regime’s incompetency, never-ending greed, and mismanagement have resulted in the closure of many manufacturing plants and higher unemployment. Out-of-control importation of goods and selling them in the local markets for exponential profits, embezzlement, colossal briberies, and the weakening of the local economy have brought misery and discontent to the people of Iran. The local manufacturing plants are no longer capable of competing with goods imported by the government’s apparatus and therefore forced to close down.
The astronomical thefts and corruptions of the regime’s affiliates are beyond belief. At times, the tip of the iceberg of such corruption is revealed by different factions of the regime to discredit the other faction and legitimize its own. Just recently, the news about the disappearance of 10% of last year’s production of Iranian steel, which amounts to 3 million tons, was published by various publications and websites. The price of this amount of steel in the world market is more than one billion and 200 million dollars.
The above is just an example of the level of corruption and mismanagement embedded in the Iranian government. The people of Iran clearly understand that their misery and their 80% living below the poverty line, is caused by the government and its oppressive policies. They have come to this realization that the only solution to any improvement in their lives is regime change. To combat the legitimate desire for “regime change” of the people of Iran, Khamenei and his entourage have intensified their repressive measures and forcing the people to acquiesce with the status quo.
In this quest, of course, some people become disappointed bow to pressures of the regime and life and instead of standing up for their rights, they either commit suicide or try to get rid of this situation by turning to drugs. Some even kill their children first and then commit suicide.
The last of these examples, which are not rare, took place on May 20, 2021 in the city of Esfarayen, when a mother first killed her 8-year-old and 2-month-old children and then committed suicide. Another unfortunate event was the self-immolation of a young man on May 16 in Tehran, who first locked himself on a park bench so that could not be saved. He then set himself on fire by pouring gasoline on himself, as a result of which he died tragically.
All this is due to the poverty and despair that has spread in society. According to estimates made last year, 8% of the population over the age of 15 in Iran, which amounts to more than 4..4 million people, are addicted to drugs.
However, on the much brighter side, the majority of the people oppose the current situation and show their opposition to this government by holding mass rallies and protests, including protests by teachers, workers, truck drivers, retirees and farmers, that take place almost daily in all cities of Iran.
Actually, they are waiting for another situation like what happened in November 2019 to vent their anger and end this government with another uprising. In that year, Khamenei was able to suppress a popular uprising by killing 1,500 people and arresting 12,000.
But according to recent remarks by former President Ahmadinejad, repression in the next uprising will not be so easily possible and will bring with it a flood of uprisings throughout the regime. Because the people have lost the patience of this dictatorship and have nothing to lose. The boycott of the regime’s next month’s showy elections by the majority of the people, with the slogans “we heard enough lies, we will not vote anymore” or “Our vote is overthrow” is another reason to prove the people do not believe in the election and its candidates. The people of Iran only recognize one vote, vote for Regime Change.
Cyrus Yaqubi is a Research Analyst and Iranian Foreign Affairs Commentator investigating the social issues and economy of the middle east countries in general and Iran in particular.
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