Iranians are further squeezed every day amid a tanking economy, an energy crisis, water bankruptcy and lethal pollution.
Protests erupted in Tehran as shopkeepers closed businesses in response to the plummeting rial and worsening economic conditions, with demonstrators chanting in solidarity. Anti-riot forces deployed tear gas to disperse crowds, while state media downplayed the protests as mere economic concerns. Iran faces severe energy shortages, water crises, and increasing pressure from the West over its nuclear program, compounding the struggles of its citizens. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s proposed budget highlights the grim economic situation, with significant wage increases proposed amid soaring inflation and tax hikes.
