‘I’m spending my savings just to survive’: Iran’s economic crisis fuels new protests

Summary

The article portrays Iran as facing intensified political repression and a severe economic crisis in 2026. It reports that the government has sentenced protesters, arrested journalists, artists, activists, and athletes, and allegedly executed at least 54 prisoners for political reasons during the previous eight months, including 31 protesters, citing the Iran Human Rights Group. It also describes continuing protests by retirees, nurses, workers, and university professors over unpaid salaries, inflation, and deteriorating living conditions. The article attributes the worsening economy to decades of sanctions, mismanagement, corruption, an alleged US-Israeli war beginning February 28, and a US naval blockade imposed April 13. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is quoted as saying the blockade reduced imports and exports by 35 percent. Interviews with business owners, retirees, and a graphic artist describe rapidly changing prices, business closures, unpaid pensions, unaffordable medicine, multiple jobs, depleted savings, and possible homelessness. The article cites estimates that at least 40 percent of Iranians have fallen below the absolute poverty line, with another 40 percent at risk, and that annual inflation reached 80 percent in August, including approximately 130 percent for food.