These days, eggs have become a symbol of poverty and the decline in the purchasing power of Iranian families. Many people, holding a few eggs in plastic bags, express their protest against the rising prices of essential goods and humorously say: "We are happy about the price increases and have no protests; because if we protest, we will be executed."
Price Increases and Declining Purchasing Power
"Inflation" is one of the most frequently used words in the daily lives of the people of Iran. The dollar continues to set new records, and the prices of essential goods are on the rise. Currently, the price of a carton of eggs in Tehran reaches about 460,000 to 800,000 tomans, and many families are forced to buy only a few of these items. In these circumstances, lower-income brackets are increasingly trapped in economic difficulties.
Read more: Georgia Suspends Iranian Flights
Poverty and Media Silence
When the advisor to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament says: "I seek revenge for my leader; but baby diapers have become 860,000 tomans," it can be understood that the severity of inflation has become a serious concern even among supporters of power. Poverty statistics in Iran are strangely considered "classified," and according to the government spokesperson, the publication of information related to poverty requires permission from the Supreme National Security Council. Fatemeh Mohajerani directly referred to this issue in a video interview, stating: "I cannot announce these numbers because it has security restrictions."
With increasing restrictions, the word "poverty" is also heard less in the news and is somewhat hidden from public view. A research article shows that the use of this word in the IRNA news agency has decreased from 10,000 articles in 2005 to 2,000 articles in 2025. Meanwhile, poverty has shown an increasing trend in recent years.
Multiple factors, including ineffective economic policies, sanctions, and international tensions, have led to the expansion of poverty to more layers of society. In these circumstances, many individuals have been forced into a cycle of installment living, a cycle that has become more difficult to escape due to the continuous rise in prices and stagnant incomes. It has been reported that over 87 million people in the country are eligible for receiving food vouchers, but these vouchers only cover part of daily expenses.
Read more: Mohammad Sadegh Hatami: Motorcycle Disposal with Special Facilities for the First Time in the Country · Zakani: 110 Hectares of Tehran Market Will Be Reconstructed
