Hemmati Admits Economic Isolation Failed as Tehran Food Costs Spike

Households in Tehran are paying nearly twice what they paid a year ago to prepare basic meals at home. A dish of ghormeh sabzi, a traditional herb stew served with rice, now costs 23 million rials, which is approximately $8.45. Potato patties, known locally as kookoo sib zamini, cost about 4 million rials to make. These rising costs are forcing families to rethink their daily shopping habits and cut back on non-essential items.

The financial pressure is eroding the savings of working families. One newly married woman in Tehran said the money her family had saved for a wedding celebration was used instead for a housing deposit. She now works two shifts to repay a loan. "Our home has turned into the place we just sleep," she told Radio Farda. She added that every morning she feels poorer than the day before.

Other families are changing their diets to save money. One woman said her family reserves most of its meat and chicken for their children, who are still growing. She and her husband eat legumes and meat substitutes. They worry that further price increases will force them to cut meat from their children's meals as well. The cost of cooking chicken and barberry at home is nearly double what it was a year ago.

Factnameh, a fact-checking outlet based in Canada, calculated the cost of 11 essential food items in September. For one person, the basket cost 56 million rials, or $20.70. For a family of three, the total was more than 168 million rials, or $61.70. The government provides a food voucher of 10 million rials, which covers less than 18 percent of the per-person cost. That coverage has dropped from about 30 percent in December 2025. Annual inflation reached 89.9 percent in September, while the average monthly wage is estimated at around $100.

Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati spoke on October 23 about the economic situation. He acknowledged the "heavy burden" Iranians are carrying. However, he stated that efforts to isolate the country's economy had failed to achieve their main objective. The pressure has increased since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. That conflict damaged infrastructure and disrupted trade. A US naval blockade has reduced oil exports, and new sanctions launched in August aim to further isolate Tehran financially.

The strain is affecting even those with above-average incomes. A middle-aged man in western Tehran earns a billion rials, or $367, per month from his salary and rental income. This is well above the average monthly household income in Tehran, which is around 600 million rials, or $220. Despite his higher earnings, he said, "I can live for today, but I have no savings for tomorrow." He has stopped traveling and dining out.

A 28-year-old woman in Tehran earns 400 million rials, or $147, per month. She has changed how she socializes with friends. They used to visit cafes weekly, but now they often order one dish for two people to split the cost. She said sharing food is the only way to make an outing affordable. A retired woman on a monthly pension of 180 million rials, or $66, has also cut back on meat and protein sources since March. She worries about her health but notes she does not pay rent.

The survey by Radio Farda in central Tehran found that middle-class activities are disappearing as families prioritize necessities. The cost of living has risen due to sanctions, inflation, and the decline of the rial. Hardship was a major factor in the protests that took place in January. Authorities responded with a crackdown that was deadly. The current economic situation continues to shape daily life for millions of Iranians.