Sunday, July 13, 2025
Iran HRM
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • Arbitrary Murders
    • Torture
    • Arrests
    • 1988 massacre
    • Right to Peaceful Protest
    • Religious and Ethnic Minorities
  • Executions
    • No to Execution Tuesdays
    • Women
    • Political prisoners
    • Public execution
    • Mass execution
  • Prisons
    • Death Sentence
    • Political prisoners
    • Prisons
  • Reports
    • Articles
    • Iran HRM monthlies
    • Infographics
  • International Reactions
    • UNHRC Resolutions
    • UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Reports
    • UN Fact Finding Mission on Iran
    • UN Expert Statements
    • European Parliament
    • Amnesty International
  • Campaigns
    • No to Execution Tuesdays Statement
  • Fallen for Freedom
    • 1988 Massacre Victims
    • Iran Protests
    • November 2019 Protests
  • About Us
  • فارسی
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • Arbitrary Murders
    • Torture
    • Arrests
    • 1988 massacre
    • Right to Peaceful Protest
    • Religious and Ethnic Minorities
  • Executions
    • No to Execution Tuesdays
    • Women
    • Political prisoners
    • Public execution
    • Mass execution
  • Prisons
    • Death Sentence
    • Political prisoners
    • Prisons
  • Reports
    • Articles
    • Iran HRM monthlies
    • Infographics
  • International Reactions
    • UNHRC Resolutions
    • UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Reports
    • UN Fact Finding Mission on Iran
    • UN Expert Statements
    • European Parliament
    • Amnesty International
  • Campaigns
    • No to Execution Tuesdays Statement
  • Fallen for Freedom
    • 1988 Massacre Victims
    • Iran Protests
    • November 2019 Protests
  • About Us
  • فارسی
No Result
View All Result
Iran HRM
No Result
View All Result
Home REPORTS Articles

Beyond poverty, Iranians on the verge of absolute famine

October 16, 2018
Iran poverty

Widely distributed image of homeless Iranian, taking shelter in empty graves outside Tehran in freezing temperatures

FacebookTwitterEmail

With over 150,000 million barrels of proven oil reserves, Iran owns the third or fourth largest oil reserve (based on different types of estimation) among oil-producing countries. Only second to Russia, Iran has also one the largest gas reserves in the world.

Iran is also ranked among 15 major mineral-rich countries, having the world’s largest zinc reserves, second largest copper reserves, 9th largest iron reserves, 10th largest uranium reserves, etc. The list goes on.

According to a recent study by the Iranian Regime’s Islamic Parliament Research Center, while accounting only for one percent of the world population, Iran has over seven percent of its minerals.

But despite all its riches, more than 80 percent of the nation lives below the poverty line, and the middle class has essentially disappeared.

The absolute poverty rate in Iran has risen from 12 percent in 2017 to 50 percent this year, with a poverty line of nearly 6 million toumans (approx. $460), this year. Iran’s annual support to Hezbollah is $700-800.

19 million Iranians live in slums, 7.4 million children are deprived of education, 25% of the youth are unemployed, workers have lost 75% of their economic capabilities, and nearly 1,000 children under the age of 3 are abandoned every year. These are just a few of the numerous consequences of rampant poverty in Iran.

Another vivid result of poverty has been the astonishing phenomenon of many Iranians willing to sell their kidneys and other body organs, and even mothers pre-selling their unborn fetus. This is parallel to the growing phenomenon of child labor, a swelling number of homeless people roaming the streets and people even resorting to making homes out of graves.

The use of terms such as “line of poverty” and “absolute poverty” have become commonplace in Iran. And state-run media always provide the most optimistic estimates.

An Iranian regime official recently admitted, “The government and its officials are faced with a 60-million strong populations that is on the verge of absolute famine. This is not a joke—it’s the bitter truth. We must take it seriously.”

Where is all the money going?

According to the Iranian regime’s figures, Iran has had a $66 billion income from oil exports and $32.3 billion in non-oil exports. Where has all the money gone?

The regime continues to expand budgets allocated for meddling in Middle East countries, boosting its nuclear and ballistic missile drives, and launching dozens of military and security forces imposing an intense atmosphere of internal crackdown.

Iran spends $15-20 billion a year to fuel the war in Syria. It spends $25-30 billion a year to manufacture weapons of mass destruction and to acquire illicit material and equipment for the nuclear program. It spends $100 million per year supporting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Companies owned by Khamenei and the IRGC account for 50% of Iran’s GDP, half of which is spent on warmongering in the region.

Share155TweetSend
Previous Post

Teachers arrested as Iran’s teachers strike in dozens of cities continue for second day

Next Post

Iran sentences protesters to heavy prison terms

Related Posts

Articles

Judiciary Under the Microscope of Justice – Part 3

July 12, 2025
Articles

Judiciary Under the Microscope of Justice – Part 2

July 9, 2025
Articles

Judiciary Under the Microscope of Justice – Part 1

July 8, 2025

Iran HRM white

ABOUT US

Iran Human Rights Monitor website is dedicated to support the Iranian people’s struggle for human rights and amplifies their voices on the international stage. Its purpose is to cover executions, arbitrary arrests, torture and amputation, prison’s conditions, women, social, ethnic and religious minorities oppression news in Iran and fill the gaps in information and knowledge caused by lack of access and freedom to Iran. The information provided by Iran Human Rights Monitor are in collaboration with the NCRI (National Council of Resistance of Iran)

[email protected]

  • Iran HRM Home
  • About Us

© 2021 Iran Human Rights Monitor - All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Global Campaign for “No to Executions” in Iran
  • Iran HRM Home
  • Iran Prisons Information
  • Iranian Protesters Killed in November 2019 Protests
  • What will the regime of murderers do to Iran protests after Ebrahim Raisi takes office?

© 2025 Iran HRM