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Two-minute read
Over the past week, bread prices have soared by 52%, making this staple nearly a luxury.
the tax on thought: strangling culture and knowledge
Iran’s economic woes extend beyond bread to intellect and culture. The cost of paper has surged fivefold in five years. By early July 2025, a single ream of paper cost 1.6 million tomans. This rampant inflation jeopardises the publishing industry, rendering books a luxury. Such issues stem from the regime’s failed policies, leaving Iran 70% reliant on foreign paper markets.
A loaf of bread becomes a luxury
Basic staples are slipping beyond reach. In Tehran, a Barbari flatbread officially costs 3,500 tomans. Yet on the streets, it fetches 7,000 tomans, reflecting an alarming trend. Price hikes are now rampant in Qom, Khorasan Razavi, Hamedan, and Gilan. Unfortunately, the regime seems unable to manage even bread prices. For more on this, see Iran Protests.
collapse of public transport
Travelling has become a burden, vital for work and family life. Intercity bus tickets, crucial for ordinary Iranians, have surged by 80% within a year. Meanwhile, wages saw a meagre 30% rise. On busy routes like Tehran to Isfahan, tickets now cost 470,000 tomans. A family’s round-trip journey now nears 4 million tomans. The transport fleet plummeted from 16,500 buses to 5,000. The regime’s neglect also pushed new bus prices from 1.5 billion to 33 billion tomans. Explore more at NCRI-FAC.
Such economic decline is relentless and unforgiving. Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidency offers little remedy to the systemic decay in Iran. His administration, in fact, often justifies the deepening crisis. The cost of survival becomes unbearable for millions. Essentials—from bread to bus fares—spiral amidst mismanagement and corruption.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Qezeljeh appears resigned to inflated food costs. On red meat, he claims, “Red meat is red meat, and naturally, its price is higher…” It’s a stark admission that no relief is forthcoming.
a troubling economic narrative
Iran’s crisis extends to bakeries, bus stations, and beyond. They’re not isolated woes but interconnected symptoms of a faltering system. The current regime leaves Iranians impoverished and isolated. Despite names or titles, the nation’s trajectory remains grim. True recovery demands a fundamental shift.
Learn more about this dire situation here.
