Economist Sounds Alarm: 40% of Iranians at Risk of Hunger Due to Government Policies Worsening Inequality

Iran is currently grappling with a severe hunger crisis, which experts predict may thrust nearly half of its population into a state of food insecurity. With around 7 million people already undernourished, the situation is becoming increasingly dire as food prices continue to soar.

According to Hossein Raghfar, a prominent economist with ties to the regime, approximately 10% of Iranians are currently suffering from malnutrition and hunger. Alarmingly, this figure could escalate to 40% of the population if existing policies remain unchanged. Speaking to Khabar Online on November 10, Raghfar painted a bleak picture of the crisis:

“Even if these people spend all their income on food, they still cannot get enough calories.”

Raghfar attributes this escalating crisis to a “discriminatory system of resource and opportunity allocation”, where proximity to power dictates access to wealth and resources. He elaborated, stating:

“Those closer to the centers of power gain control over larger resources and opportunities.”

He cautioned that Iran’s current economic model has resulted in a small, ultra-wealthy elite benefitting from policies that favor them, while the majority of the population sinks into poverty. Raghfar likened today’s hunger levels to the famine that beset Iran during World War I, which was fueled by British policies, but emphasized that the current crisis stems from “greed, stupidity, and betrayal from within.”

Raghfar also warned against underestimating the potential for public unrest:

“It is naïve to think people will simply watch themselves grow hungrier. This path will inevitably lead to strong social reactions.”

Recent statistics reveal that malnutrition is linked to a staggering 35% of deaths in Iran. Data from the Health Ministry indicates that:

• At least 10,000 deaths annually are due to omega-3 deficiency.
• Another 10,000 deaths result from inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables.
• Approximately 25,000 deaths are attributed to a lack of whole grains in the diet.

Furthermore, between 50% and 70% of Iranians are reported to suffer from vitamin D deficiency, leading to widespread health issues, including compromised immune systems and bone problems.

The economic strain has rendered basic food items unattainable for many families. Majid Mirlatafi, a university professor, recently expressed concern over rising food costs, stating:

“The price of yogurt will soon double, and even bread and yogurt will be beyond reach for most families.”

Labor activists report that the cost of a minimal household basket has skyrocketed to 58 million tomans per month, while the government-mandated minimum wage is less than 11 million tomans—a mere fifth of the living cost. Farmerz Tofighi, a labor expert, condemned this situation as “wage suppression,” a systemic approach designed to keep workers impoverished while safeguarding elite interests.

Ordinary citizens are witnessing a staggering decline in living standards. Many have been forced to cut basic food items from their weekly grocery lists. Some shared their experiences with the media:

“Meat disappeared from our table weeks ago.”

“Every week I must decide which food to cut from my shopping list to survive until month’s end.”

Meanwhile, Mansour Pourian, head of the National Livestock Supply Council, disclosed that even imported frozen meat, once a low-cost alternative, has become prohibitively expensive:

“Brazilian frozen meat that used to sell for 385,000 to 420,000 tomans now costs between 600,000 and 700,000.”

He also noted that Indian frozen meat, which should not exceed 400,000 tomans, is now priced at 650,000 tomans.

At the heart of these soaring prices lies the entrenched corruption that Raghfar has long decried. He pointed out the regime’s allocation of $4 billion for car imports over the past year—funds that could have been directed toward essential goods like medicine and food.

“These policies serve the interests of super-capitalists at the expense of millions of hungry people,”

For many Iranians, the hunger crisis transcends economic hardship; it has become a profound moral indictment of a regime that prioritizes the powerful while neglecting its citizens facing starvation. The urgency for change is evident, as the plight of the Iranian people continues to deteriorate amidst rising food insecurity and systemic inequality.