Iranian shopkeepers in Tehran say they are “going bankrupt” as the country’s economic crisis worsens and the war reduces customers and purchasing power. Outlets describe markets that have become noticeably quieter, with shops often sitting mostly empty as residents struggle to afford everyday goods.
Several reports link the pressure on retailers to years of sanctions alongside the conflict that escalated earlier in the year, including US-Israeli attacks and disruption to trade. Rising inflation and volatile currency exchange rates are presented as key drivers of higher prices for daily necessities. France 24 and Free Malaysia Today cite official inflation figures and note that food prices have more than doubled compared with last year. Together, the reports portray retailers facing both cost increases and weaker demand, with some shop owners attributing their situation to the combined effects of sanctions, wartime conditions, and rapid price growth.
