Iranians struggle with soaring costs amid seven months of war

A.A.: A.A. is an architect concerned about the economic decline affecting even wealthier Iranians, who have seen their relative living standards drop. He recently faced delays and costs in car repairs due to supply issues and fears impending fuel shortages that could further disrupt supply chains. His account points to the ripple effects on middle-class professionals. A.J.: A.J. is a teacher who has relocated from Tehran to a northern village with family after schools shifted online due to the war. He often cannot afford necessary medicines for his mother and worries about returning to the capital if in-person teaching resumes. His story highlights disruptions to education and family support networks. Iran: Iran is a Middle Eastern country currently engaged in a war with the United States and Israel that began over seven months ago. The conflict has triggered a US blockade on Iranian oil exports, severely impacting the national economy and daily life for ordinary citizens. Reuters reporting highlights how these strains are affecting access to medicine, housing, jobs, and basic goods across the country. M.H.: M.H. is a woman in Tehran who recently lost her procurement department job despite a renewed contract, requiring her to return social security contributions. Her family now strictly prioritizes essentials like food while relying on internet access for connection and entertainment. This reflects heavy private sector layoffs and adaptive household strategies. Hediyeh: Hediyeh is a housewife in her 60s living in northern Iran who relies on her husband's civil service pension. She struggles to afford essential medicines and adult diapers for her elderly mother with Alzheimer's disease, as well as basic school supplies for her grandson. Her situation illustrates the impact on fixed-income households dealing with inflated costs of daily necessities. Nazanin: Nazanin is a 34-year-old psychotherapist based in Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province. She has quit smoking due to sharply rising cigarette prices, despite prior difficulty in stopping. Her case shows how even personal habits are affected by economic pressures in the region. Emily Giles: Emily Giles is a journalist who provided reporting for the Reuters article detailing the personal stories of Iranians facing war-related economic hardships. Behnam Riazi: Behnam Riazi is a restaurant owner operating in Tehran. He has been forced to sell goods at minimal profit margins without the ability to raise prices or close his business due to the risk of unemployment. His experience reflects the broader pressures on private sector businesses amid widespread customer cutbacks. John Davison: John Davison is a Reuters foreign correspondent specializing in the Middle East who has covered conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Gaza, and other regional hotspots from bureaus in Baghdad, Cairo, and Beirut. He contributed reporting to this article on the economic effects of the Iran war on ordinary citizens. Melory Ghazi: Melory Ghazi is a journalist who supplied additional reporting for the Reuters coverage of economic misery in Iran during the war. Nilo Tabrizy: Nilo Tabrizy is a journalist who contributed reporting to the Reuters piece on soaring living costs and job losses in Iran amid the ongoing conflict. Angus McDowall: Angus McDowall is the writer who compiled and edited the Reuters article based on field interviews about the impact of the US blockade and war on Iranian daily life. Ramin Yousefnia: Ramin Yousefnia is a grocery shop owner in Tehran who observes customers buying far fewer items than before, often limiting purchases to just two of previously common quantities. He notes the absence of savings among shoppers as a stark reality of declining living standards. His on-camera comments capture retail-level impacts of the economic downturn. Diplomatic Efforts: Recent diplomatic initiatives involving Iran have been partly driven by domestic economic strains and fears of unrest. Black Market Growth: The black market has grown more pervasive as citizens seek alternatives to official channels amid rising costs and bureaucratic hurdles. Private Sector Challenges: The war has triggered widespread job losses and operational difficulties across Iran's private businesses and supply chains.