In the heart of Tehran, the once-bustling streets now echo with the silence of shuttered shops and the whispers of economic despair. The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which began over six months ago, has left ordinary Iranians grappling with a collapsing economy. inflation has soared, making basic necessities like gas, food, and rent increasingly unaffordable. Livelihoods are unraveling, forcing many to borrow just to survive and putting major life milestones on hold.
The official unemployment rate in Iran stands at 9%, but independent analysts suggest the true figure is significantly higher. The desperation for work is evident: Jobvision, a prominent Iranian job-seeking portal, reported a 50% spike in resume submissions in late April alone. Even state-sanctioned labor leaders acknowledge the severity of the crisis. In May, Alireza Mahjoob, head of Iran’s Workers House, admitted on state television that joblessness was far worse than anticipated.
The Human Toll of Economic Collapse
Rasoul, a 42-year-old engineer, had a steady job at a tech company in Tehran. He often reassured his wife about their financial security, telling her he could always drive for Snapp, Iran’s local ride-sharing equivalent to Uber, if times got tough. But when the war hit, his worst-case scenario became a reality.
In January, during a brutal government crackdown on protests, Iranian authorities severely restricted internet access, cutting off communication with the outside world. Rasoul’s company, which depended on global networks, suffered severe disruptions. ‘The company’s situation got really bad,’ Rasoul said. ‘They were losing customers one by one.’ By mid-February, he was laid off, triggering a period of severe depression.
Desperate to pay his bills, Rasoul turned to his backup plan and began driving for Snapp at night. However, the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran, along with ever-tighter U.S. sanctions and a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, led to rising fuel prices and costly vehicle repairs. Ongoing U.S. airstrikes made navigating the streets at night far too dangerous. Eventually, Rasoul had to rely on extended family to stay afloat. Personal plans, including starting a family, have been completely shelved.
The Collapse of Industries and Supply Chains
Other industries have faced complete collapse due to supply chain blockades and regional instability. Kayvan, a 42-year-old materials engineer from Tehran, helped a Chinese firm establish a business supplying raw materials to Iran’s vital oil sector. When fighting escalated, maritime trade came to a halt.
‘The environment became so unsafe,’ Kayvan said. ‘Transit routes and shipping routes were shut down, the Strait of Hormuz was closed, sea transport became impossible.’ With clients unable to place orders, the business collapsed. ‘It was like those American movies where people dump their belongings into a box and clear out their desk,’ Kayvan recalled about the day he had to leave his job.
To survive the job loss, Kayvan’s family relied entirely on his wife’s income and rapidly dwindling personal savings—a cushion eroding fast against extreme economic headwinds. ‘Terrifying inflation, unprecedented price hikes… we’ve genuinely never experienced days like these before,’ Kayvan said, adding that the conflict simply needs to stop. ‘We’re all just falling apart.’
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Chaos
For some, temporary relief has come, though it offers little peace of mind. In July, Rasoul managed to secure a new role as a sales manager. Yet with the conflict continuing and the broader economy in freefall, stability feels like an illusion. ‘We’re like passengers on a train,’ Rasoul said. ‘We don’t know if the bridge ahead is broken or intact.’
