The economic collapse in the Islamic Republic of Iran has led to widespread despair. For most Iranians, mere survival has become an unendiing daily struggle. A small group — those who belong to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or the Basij, or to the Shia clerisy — have so far not shared the general fate. More on the economic degringolade can be found here: “Iran risks renewed protests as citizens reach ‘breaking point’ amid war-stricken economy,” by Omid Habibinia, The Media Line, March 28, 2026:
Iran’s already dying economy is now being pushed toward full collapse after several weeks of war. Food prices are rising not only day by day but hour by hour, with some staples increasing by at least 50 percent compared to pre-war levels.
At the same time, the disruption of internet access has halted many services. Factories and production facilities are facing acute shortages of raw materials, and the country’s administrative system has been severely impaired. “It has become impossible to endure this situation any longer,” a Tehran resident told The Media Line.
According to figures cited by state-affiliated institutions and some economists, more than 40% of the population now lives below the absolute poverty line, with that figure exceeding 50% in the capital. Economists warn, however, that the real poverty rate may have climbed above 60% nationwide.
As the middle class erodes, the gap between those earning less than 50 million tomans per month (about $320) and those earning more than 200 million tomans per month (about $1,280) has widened sharply.
However, across most occupations, the average monthly income of employees and skilled workers in Tehran does not exceed 25 million tomans (about $160), meaning that the majority fall below the poverty line, which economists say would require at least twice that amount to sustain a basic standard of living….
Government intervention in the currency market has failed to stabilize the exchange rate; instead, the US dollar nearly doubled in less than 7 months, triggering a sharp collapse of the national currency….
Iran’s currency continues to sink. In 1979, when the Ayatollah Khomeini took power, the exchange rate was 70 rials to the dollar. Today there are 1.3 million rials to the dollar, the greatest collapse of any currency in the last one hundred years.
The suppression of the protesters, many of whom were protesting economic conditions rather than the absence of political freedom, was brutal: in just two days — Jan. 8 and 9 — 36,500 protesters were killed and several hundred thousand were wounded.
Unfortunately for Iran, the people placed in charge of the economy have often been chosen not on the basis of expertise, but for loyalty to the regime; most turn out to be economic nitwits, while real economists, many of whom are suspect politically, have been sidelined. The Iranian economy has been mismanaged for the past 47 years. $500 billion has been grossly misallocated to weapons development — consisting of both an extensive nuclear project and a ballistic missile program that has involved the building of 27 vast underground “missile cities” — both programs are now being battered to great effect by the Israelis and the Americans, and hundreds of billions of dollars spent by Iran on its weaponry has already gone up in smoke, with much more damage to come.
Many have suggested that if Iran does not accept the 15-point program of concessions that the Trump administration has demanded of it, the war will continue for many weeks to come, with all the additional expense to Iran of conducting hostilities not only against the United States and Israel, but against the seven Gulf Arab states hosting American military bases that are now suggesting that they will begin attacking Iran.
Nowruz was particularly painful this year. It’s the time when families traditionally spend more on new clothes for the spring, and on food for family celebrations of the holiday. In Iran, the cost of such spending skyrocketed this year, so that even the most basic of commodities, such as pasta and canned tuna, are no longer within reach of an average Iranian family.
The Iranians are at the end of their tether. Food prices are sky high; the simplest of foodstuffs can cost someone half of his monthly salary. The value of the rial keeps sinking. Despite this nightmarish situation, Iran’s rulers are still plowing billions of dollars into its twenty-seven ballistic missile cities built deep underground, and using up thousands of its multimillion-dollar ballistic missiles in attacks on Israel and eight of Iran’s Arab neighbors. It continues running, at great expense, the nuclear facilities also built deep underground in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The rulers of Iran had a choice — guns or butter — and they long ago chose guns sensu lato, with a little “butter” set aside just for themselves and their extended families. How much longer can the regime in Tehran survive with an impoverished population that feels it has nothing left to lose?
Walter Sieruk says
That misogynistic murderous, monstrous malicious oppressive brutal and cruel tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran is a. horrendous abomination and affront to and against everything that is good, civilized and of value of worth.
Those very evil despots and is viciously against the Iranian people, for those ayatollahs mullahs and similar Muslim despots in tyrannical control in that Islamic regime of Iran terribly oppress the Iranian people through their thugs in uniform who are called the “Islamic Revolutionary guards.”
All those years of miserly oppression suffering and murder imposed on the Iranian people by those despots of that Islamic tyranny of Iran is coming back down on those evil dictators of that horrific regime. Therefore, the old saying might a valid statement, which is “What goes around comes around.”
For the Iranian people are right and justified for hating that brutal cruel oppressive and even murderous Islamic tyrannical regime of Iran.
For example, the many arrest and imprisonment and even execution of people , repeatedly, who had peacefully protested that “mullah tyranny” of Iran only further exposes the weak ,fearful and intolerant nature of those in power in the oppressive and brutal “mullah regime “ of Iran.
Therefore, the Iranians people are more than justified in wanting that brutal cruel oppressive Islamic tyranny to be overthrown and replaced with a genuine government.
As a former Muslim revealed an important reality when he wrote, “The Islamic republic of Iran exists and operates as what every fundamentalist dreams of, an Islamic state ruled by Sharia …” He further exposes that “What followed its establishment was the inevitable consequence and inexorable logic of its Islamic premise; state terrorism, a merciless tyranny.” [1]
[1] THE ISLAM IN ISLAMIC TERRORISM by Ibn Warraq page 347.
Walter Sieruk says
The Iranian people are very justified, right and righteous and just to strongly object to protest against that brutal cruel oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic tyrannical regime of Iran.
For that Islamic tyrannical regime of Iran is and always was since its very beginning a horrendous violator of human rights, especially females, both girls and women, even the most basic human rights of the Iranian people. Since those tyrants in power in Iran care nothing ,at all , for the humans rights as in lives and safety of the people of Iran , how much less do they care ,if even possible, about the lives and safely of the people of other countries.
Furthermore, that Islamic tyranny of Iran is based in the foundation of false and empty promises. As well as lying words of Ayatollah Khomeini After the fiendish Muslim clerics obtained total power in Iran they showed their true colors by having their Islamic state police who are called the “Revolutionary Guards truest the people on Iran in many heinously brutal and ruthless ways. As, for example, their brutal, callous misogyny against both girls and women. This thesis statement is explained, in some detail, by the following.
, That tyrannical Islamic regime in Iran that so falsely and inappropriately has the word “republic” in its title. It should be made known that this called the “Iranian Revolution” turned out to be a hoax. Ayatollah Khomeini before achieving power in Iran in his lying and deceptions presented himself to the Iranian people as if he was someone who would be in power would give freedom to the people of Iran with any tyranny. The reality turned out to be just the opposite.
As explained by a former Muslim as well as a man who took part in this Islamic “revolution “ ,who is now a Christian informs the reader of his book that “Prior to the Revolution no one ever imagined that other political parties would be suppressed under the rule of Ayatollah Khomeini. He had promised that all groups would have freedom to run their own campaigns after the Revolution. He even stated that governing system would be based on the decision of the people via a referendum. He never spoke of a system that would be governed by Islam. He even made clear that mullahs would not take part in any political activities, and that they would only be allowed to teach spirituality… Immediately after the Revolution, mullahs rushed into government offices to occupy the most important political l positions, making it difficult for the interim secular government to function … The mullah’s occupation of position was exactly the opposite to what the Ayatollah Khomeini had promised before the Revolution.”. [1]
In other words, the insincere, disingenuous and outright lying Ayatollah Khomeini made many bogus promise he really had no intention of keeping. His lying deception worked, for he achieved great power in Iran.
Furthermore, of the many heinously evils outcomes of that Islamic “revolution” is the extremely cruel, brutal and demonic misogyny of this hideous Islamic regime. Not only against women but even young girls.
As explained by a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard member who defected to the West and how now lives in America his book also informs the reader about the malicious and murderous affront girls in Iran’s Evin prison which reads that those in power ,the “paraded teenage girls in front in front of me as they led them to their deaths. These girls were barely out of their childhood, barely old enough to think of themselves, much less form thoughts against the state. They knew nothing about the machinations of politics. They were innocent in every sense of the word and certainty innocent of trumped –up charges that led to their imprisonment. Yet they suffered fates too brutal for even the most vicious criminal. ..Their few remaining moments of life had been filled with the level of abuse that few can imagine”
The author further states “They tortured and killed young girls, in God’s name and before their execution they raped them because they believed that if a girl dies virgin, she will go to heaven, and they wanted to deny them this reward.” [2]
This is as malice -filled cruel brutal oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic regime of Iran, since it took power in Iran it thrives on installing fear on the Iranian people.
First, the Bible reads, “All the days of the oppressed are wretched.” Proverbs 15:15. [N.I.V.]
Second, Benjamin Franklin had printed a very true statement in his periodical Poor Richard’s Almanac which may apply to that horrendous tyrannical regime of Iran. It’s “Those who are feared are also hated.”
One important this to understand that since that brutal .cruel oppressive and murderous Islamic regime of Iran was built on a bedrock of lies as well as false and empty and unkempt promises its footing is based on a foundation of sand, therefore the collapse of that hostile horrific and horrendous Islamic tyranny of Iran will be inevitable.
[1] ISLAM THE HOUSE I LEFT BEHIND by Daniel Shayesteh . Pages 90, 91
[2] A TIME TO BETRAY by Reza Kahlili. Pages 2,3. 117.
Beans🫘 says
Screw your Iranian people. You got one week to rise up or we wipe you off the earth.
Walter Sieruk says
That tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran is the enemy the Iranian people, through that misery and death inflecting horrific Islamic tyranny of Iran, which is evil in sense of that word. Therefore, that Islamic tyranny is so terribly horrific and cruelly oppressive that it should be overthrown and replaced with a legitimate, genuine, government, which respects and safeguards those natural human rights of the people of Iran.
For that horrendously cruel oppressive malicious and murderous Islamic regime of Iran, denies the Iranian, people their basic natural human rights. As in consequence the people of Iran would and should revolt against that viciously brutal tyrannical “’mullah regime” of Iran.
Accordingly, the Iranian people are right and righteous by engaging in bitter and strong protests against those cruel malicious and murderous tyrants in power of that cruel and oppressive Sharia based dictatorship of that vicious Islamic regime of Iran.
In other words, those vicious despots of that horrendously horrific Islamic regime have provoked the people excessively too far.
In addition, some of the people who trapped in and forced to exist in the Islamic dictatorship of Iran might not know about the intellect philosopher John Locke, but his ideas do apply to them. For Mr. Locke taught that any good government has the duty to ensure the security and safety of its citizens. So the people under the bondage and oppression of a tyrannical government do have every natural and ethical right to overthrow that terrible and oppressive tyrannical government.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Instead of rhetoric about hitting Iranian power plants, we should have a plan to invade and seize Kharg Island, and just end all traffic to and from there. Once the islamic regime can’t move their own oil, they won’t even be able to pay their supporters. It’ll be interesting to see how much longer they survive once that happens
The Israelis too – while they have done well targeting things like steel plants, they should now focus on taking out what remains of the islamic political leadership – Pezeshkian, Araghchi, Ghalibaf, et al. Instead of their oil or gas infrastructure
Keys says
What do you think about going after the remaining Ayatollahs and their mosques?
Unless, the Supreme Ayatollah issues a fatwa for all IRGC and Basij to surrender. /sarc
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Keys
They absolutely should. But since the “council of experts” i.e. most of the ayatollahs have been eliminated, they should take out the remaining talking heads of this regime -the ones I listed
There is no supreme ayatollah any more: the IRGC & Basij are now in auto-run mode
Daniel Triplett says
Agreed. Good idea.
Keys says
Infidel and Daniel Triplett – thanks for your responses.
I would especially like to see the complete obliteration of the mosques/shrines dedicated to the one who began this mess in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini. I can just imagine what is hidden in and below these shrines, especially the one in Tehran!
From GPT-5:
“The main mosque in Iran dedicated to Ayatollah Khomeini is the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya (often called Imam Khomeini Hussainiya or Imam Khomeini Mosque) in Tehran, located near his mausoleum complex at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery; additionally, many cities have Imam Khomeini mosques or hussainiyas named after him (e.g., Imam Khomeini Mosque in Qom, Mashhad, and other provincial capitals).
Walter Sieruk says
The Iranians do have every righteous and just right to overthrow that horrendously malicious and murderous Islamic tyranny of Iran, and then establish a legitimate , genuine, government which ensures and respects the basic human rights of its citizens.
OLD GUY says
I see a problem with destroying power plants, factories and infrastructures in Iran. Will the stress and rage placed on the average citizen be aimed at the American forces creating the current miseries they are going through. When you make peoples lives harder than they were, its hard to win their hearts and minds.
IO support the destruction of Irans leadership, and hope the people of Iran can obtain a government that gives them freedom and prosperity.
Finish the job says
1. Announce that anyone or any organisation connected with the regime or supportive of the regime will be targeted.
2. Provide the means for the Iranian resistance to provide targeting information, that can be then acted upon.
3. Destroy the support structure of the regime, including every cleric and every mosque, every Basij member, and every IRGC member
4. If the Iranians have not surrendered unconditionally within three weeks, go scorched earth – destroy the Kharg Island facilities, and all other oil pipelines, storage and processing; destroy desalination plants and water storage; destroy municipal services such as power and sewage. Put Iran back in the 18th Century, to the extent it will take Iran 50 years to recover.
Iran should face the consequences of 47 years of waging war on the world.
Then accept no Iranian refugees, if they are Muslim.