Resident of Tehran: closure of businesses and factories, widespread shortages and layoffs in Iran

Mehdi writes from Iran: “The factory has been closed for 45 days because steel and stainless steel sheets have become rare. I have not fired anyone, but it cannot go on like this forever. I have closed two restaurants and made layoffs. All the best to the management of your country. When the factories are closed, no matter how much you brag to the world, in the end the unemployed workers will grab you by the throat,” Mazlian published.

The decline of the empire

In interviews conducted by the agency with Iranian political figures, business owners and analysts, a country approaching the brink of economic collapse was described. Also hovering in the background is the fear of a renewed outbreak of national protests, similar to those that broke out in January. According to the report, those demonstrations were suppressed by the authorities at the cost of thousands of deaths – a higher number than the number of deaths that Iran suffered during the war.

A former reformist official told Reuters that fears that the collapsing economy would ignite another round of protests hovered over any government decision. A political source close to the Iranian establishment added that the authorities see the economy as the “Achilles heel” of the country.

According to him, any comprehensive peace agreement will require the removal of international sanctions and the release of frozen funds, otherwise the authorities will have difficulty meeting even salary payments, not to mention the restoration of the damaged infrastructure. According to him, such a situation could call into question the leadership’s ability to control a country of about 90 million people.