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More than six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, ordinary Iranians are facing worsening economic hardship, insecurity and uncertainty, with little prospect of relief in the near term.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes, has killed more than 3,500 people in Iran and caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, businesses and key economic facilities.
While Iran’s political and military establishment has adapted to the prolonged conflict, divisions remain over whether to pursue diplomacy or continue fighting. International efforts to revive talks between Tehran and Washington have yet to produce a breakthrough.
The economic situation has deteriorated sharply. Inflation reached 89% year-on-year in the Iranian month ending August 22, while food prices rose by more than 127%. The Iranian rial also fell to a record low of about 2.06 million rials per US dollar in Tehran’s open market.
Damage to oil and gas facilities, power plants, factories, ports, airports and other infrastructure has contributed to fuel and electricity shortages. Authorities are also preparing for possible natural gas shortages ahead of winter and have reduced fuel quotas for private vehicles.
For many Iranians, the crisis has also deepened social and political pressure. Authorities have tightened restrictions, including enforcement of mandatory hijab rules, while several businesses have been shut down for alleged violations of official regulations.
“I just want a life that does not involve constantly clashing with others, getting more isolated from the rest of the world, and planning for survival,” a young Tehran resident told Al Jazeera.
With the war continuing, economic sanctions tightening and diplomacy making little progress, ordinary Iranians remain caught between rising living costs, damaged infrastructure and an uncertain future.