Iran’s Economy Under Siege: Prices Jump as War Drains Jobs

Amid a war with the US and Israel, Iran’s economy is strained by soaring prices, a record-low rial, and widespread job losses or pauses as sanctions, supply disruptions, and infrastructure damage bite the market. Consumers face steep increases across essentials—food, medicine, cars and electronics—while the government raises wages modestly and offers small subsidies; authorities blame external pressures and mismanagement. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged unity to defeat enemies in an economic and cultural struggle and asked businesses to minimize layoffs, framing the crisis as a test of resilience.