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The Financial Burden of Tehran’s Foreign Military Interventions on Iranian Families
The Iranian regime’s terrorist meddling in Syria, exemplifying a costly policy to further its ambitions through military force, has profoundly affected the country’s economy and its citizens. This report highlights the financial cost of these policies in Syria, illustrating the burden borne by Iranian households and the broader implications of these expenditures. The Iranian regime has turned Syria into a hub for distributing weapons, ammunition, and troops to affiliated groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. This strategy has resulted in ongoing conflicts and bloodshed, aimed at maintaining the regime’s survival. This policy can be summarized in one sentence: “a policy of crime.”
But what is the cost to the Iranian people? The economic burdens have been enormous, with vast resources diverted from vital sectors such as education, healthcare, industry, and agriculture to cover these policies.
Iran Faces Dual Crises: Air Pollution and Fuel Shortages
The Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology in Iran recently issued a directive announcing the closure of university classrooms and higher education institutions for the remainder of the fall semester. Citing air pollution and insufficient fuel to heat educational spaces, the ministry instructed institutions to switch to virtual learning until the exam period.
Despite a week of closures across schools, offices, universities, and industrial zones in most provinces, the crisis of fuel shortages continues to intensify. Electric power plants are struggling to supply urban and commercial electricity, highlighting the regime’s failure to meet basic needs. This stands in stark contrast to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s claims of “approaching the peak of success.”
Labor Activist in Iran Begins Second Year of Prison Sentence Amid Serious Health Concerns
Hajar Saeedi, a labor and women’s rights activist from Sanandaj, a city in western Iran, has entered the second year of her five-year prison sentence. Her health is reportedly deteriorating as she suffers from heart and lung diseases, raising serious concerns about her well-being. Hajar Saeedi was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison on November 18, 2023, to begin serving a five-year prison sentence. Initially, it was reported that she was sentenced to one year in prison; however, further investigations revealed that a previously suspended five-year sentence had been enforced.
In an earlier case, Saeedi was convicted by Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion through forming a communist cell” and “acting against national security.” Her sentence of two years in prison was later reduced to one year by Branch 4 of the Sanandaj Appeals Court.
The Crisis in Iran’s Pharmaceutical Industry
Studies indicate that the profitability of many Iranian pharmaceutical companies has dropped by over 30%, reducing their net profit margins to less than 25%.
Additionally, pharmaceutical industry experts, due to delayed payments and financial issues, have either left some domestic companies or relocated their factories to neighboring countries. According to the state-run Ham-Mihan newspaper, the decline in pharmaceutical companies’ profitability stems from price-fixing policies, which, amid inflation and severe currency fluctuations, have placed these companies in financial distress.
The report adds that the financial challenges of these companies are not limited to profitability; rising debts and liquidity issues are other aspects of this crisis. The debt-to-asset ratio for some pharmaceutical companies has increased from 58% to 64%, forcing many entities, both public and private, to borrow from banks to continue operations.
Iran’s Economic Growth Halving, According to Central Bank Report
New data from the Central Bank of the Iranian regime indicates that GDP growth from March 20 to September 22 has halved compared to the same period last year.
According to Central Bank statistics, the country’s economic growth was 5.3% from March 20 to September 22, 2023, but this year, it has fallen to 2.9% during the same period. The details reveal that economic growth in the summer of this year was even lower than in the spring, registering 2.7% with oil included and only 2.3% without oil.
A significant point in the Central Bank’s data is that economic growth over the past two years has been primarily driven by increased oil exports rather than sectors such as services, industry, agriculture, and others directly affecting people’s livelihoods.
The Critical Condition of Iranian Political Prisoner Sharifeh Mohammadi
In early July 2024, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht tried labor activist Sharifeh Mohammadi on charges of Baghi (armed rebellion against the Islamic ruler) and sentenced her to death. A hearing on Sharifeh Mohammadi’s charges was held on Thursday, December 19, in Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht. This session followed the overturning of her death sentence by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court and the referral of the case to this branch. During the session, part of which was conducted online, Mohammadi defended herself against the accusations.
Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested by security agents on December 4, 2023, and detained in solitary confinement for several months. At the time of her arrest, she was charged with “propaganda against the regime.” She was subjected to prolonged physical and psychological torture to extract forced confessions. Judicial authorities later escalated the charge to Baghi. Based on this accusation, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht sentenced her to death.
How 50 Million Liters of Fuel Disappear Daily in Iran
While the people of Iran endure frequent power outages, mafia networks connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are smuggling 20 million liters of fuel daily in massive operations. These systematic thefts, orchestrated by regime-backed gangs, generate enormous profits for powerful figures while jeopardizing citizens’ livelihoods. Recent reports on Gasoline smuggling have highlighted one of Iran’s largest systemic corruption scandals. Masoud Pezeshkian, the president, stated: “How can 20 million liters of fuel go missing daily when we are both the producers and distributors? They should hang me for this theft! The same happens with water, electricity, gas, etc.” (State newspaperTabnak, December 17, 2024).