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| Iranians brace for hard times as US imposes new round of sanctions | Iranians brace for hard times as US imposes new round of sanctions |
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| As a long weekend approached last month to observe the martyrdom of Imam Reza, Tehranis took advantage of their free Thursday afternoon to engage in a favourite national pastime: shopping. In the main arteries of the Bazare-e Bozorg (Grant Bazaar), moving with the steady flow of pedestrian traffic offered little personal space, and the typical hustle and bustle of hagglers, two-wheeled vehicles and rug dealers was at one point spiced up by a group of affronted women kicking a groper. It was only few turns further, deep inside a deserted home supplies section, that the sense of declining commerce set in. | As a long weekend approached last month to observe the martyrdom of Imam Reza, Tehranis took advantage of their free Thursday afternoon to engage in a favourite national pastime: shopping. In the main arteries of the Bazare-e Bozorg (Grant Bazaar), moving with the steady flow of pedestrian traffic offered little personal space, and the typical hustle and bustle of hagglers, two-wheeled vehicles and rug dealers was at one point spiced up by a group of affronted women kicking a groper. It was only few turns further, deep inside a deserted home supplies section, that the sense of declining commerce set in. |
| Stooped atop low wooden stools next to their storefronts, two vendors moodily surveyed their stocks of tin samovars, glass tea sets and porcelain plates. Most of the products they offer are the same Chinese and German brands found in shops throughout the city, and so are the rates: a plain, Chinese-made kettle that cost 110,000 rials (£5.70) six months ago now costs 25,000. When a shopper wandered in to inquire about coffee filters, one of them sprang up to lead the potential buyer through six rows of stalls, asking at each corner until finally conceding that the shop that stocked them had closed several weeks ago. | |
| The US imposed its newest round of sanctions on 6 February, with the aim of blocking Iran's ability to trade its oil for gold and precious metals, and blacklist financial, shipping and communications companies. Already feeling the strain, Iranians are bracing for more hard times. | The US imposed its newest round of sanctions on 6 February, with the aim of blocking Iran's ability to trade its oil for gold and precious metals, and blacklist financial, shipping and communications companies. Already feeling the strain, Iranians are bracing for more hard times. |
| "Ordinary citizens will suffer more. They have no connections, the value of their savings have already depleted due to [the currency's] freefall. They have to pay more for their daily consumption while at the same time they are facing unemployment," said an economist from Tehran. "The government ability to reduce the effects of sanctions will reduce significantly as its trade partners will demand higher prices and more favourable trade terms. In turn these would make an ordinary citizen's life miserable." | "Ordinary citizens will suffer more. They have no connections, the value of their savings have already depleted due to [the currency's] freefall. They have to pay more for their daily consumption while at the same time they are facing unemployment," said an economist from Tehran. "The government ability to reduce the effects of sanctions will reduce significantly as its trade partners will demand higher prices and more favourable trade terms. In turn these would make an ordinary citizen's life miserable." |
| Despite their gloomy economic reality, Iranians are doing their utmost to carry on their lives as usual. Though never a distant topic of conversation, inflation and sanctions have thus far failed to disrupt the status quo. | Despite their gloomy economic reality, Iranians are doing their utmost to carry on their lives as usual. Though never a distant topic of conversation, inflation and sanctions have thus far failed to disrupt the status quo. |
| Driving amid the high rises and gated communities of north Tehran after sunset typically offers views of made-up girls in expensive cars, fast-food chains imitating western franchises and Parisian-style cafes where a single macaroon can sell for 60,000 rials. The neighbourhood also attracts some of the city's poorest, who flock here for a chance to labour at construction sites or sell roses, cigarettes and other trinkets to drivers waiting at red lights. Lately, it has become common to see young boys in search of food eating their dinner directly out of the bins of the rich. | |
| A trade in secondhand consumer goods has long been popular in Iran, and lorries full of tinkers are now frequenting the city's residential areas in 15-minute intervals, buying up everything from used boilers, pots and vacuum cleaners to children's shoes. The salvaged products are bartered among poor families or resold at the secondhand bazaar in the south of the city, where a rusting stove oven sells for around £60. | |
| That much of the country's economic woes can be attributed to western sanctions is no secret. While official acknowledgments of the adverse effects of the oil embargo have been indirect, the newspapers address issues such as poverty, inflation and stagnating import flows daily. | That much of the country's economic woes can be attributed to western sanctions is no secret. While official acknowledgments of the adverse effects of the oil embargo have been indirect, the newspapers address issues such as poverty, inflation and stagnating import flows daily. |
| Despite a general acknowledgement of the quickly deteriorating situation, most bear the burden without turning the blame on outside forces. Inside the city's taxis, whose drivers are often postgraduate students or bankrupt merchants trying to make ends meet, the conversation frequently begins with an introspective assessment of one's personal economic woes, then shifts to the latest news from the political scene. | Despite a general acknowledgement of the quickly deteriorating situation, most bear the burden without turning the blame on outside forces. Inside the city's taxis, whose drivers are often postgraduate students or bankrupt merchants trying to make ends meet, the conversation frequently begins with an introspective assessment of one's personal economic woes, then shifts to the latest news from the political scene. |
| "This country is going down the tubes," said one middle-aged driver, who shuttered his hardware and plumbing business three months ago when he could no longer afford to import piping materials. "We have this election coming up now, but who are you supposed to vote for?" | "This country is going down the tubes," said one middle-aged driver, who shuttered his hardware and plumbing business three months ago when he could no longer afford to import piping materials. "We have this election coming up now, but who are you supposed to vote for?" |
| While the increasingly visible rift among Iran's ruling powers – most notably the 3 February altercation between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the speaker, Ali Larijani – is a topic often mulled over in Tehran's streets, most see it as an internal struggle for economic advantages unlikely to ease the plight of ordinary citizens. | While the increasingly visible rift among Iran's ruling powers – most notably the 3 February altercation between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the speaker, Ali Larijani – is a topic often mulled over in Tehran's streets, most see it as an internal struggle for economic advantages unlikely to ease the plight of ordinary citizens. |
| "The situation … provides the politically connected individuals and the government agencies with several opportunities for profiteering," said a Tehran economist. "This means a smaller private sector while government influence will continue to increase to become the only significant player in the country." | "The situation … provides the politically connected individuals and the government agencies with several opportunities for profiteering," said a Tehran economist. "This means a smaller private sector while government influence will continue to increase to become the only significant player in the country." |
| With many Iranians struggling to keep above water, it is unclear how the pre-election manoeuvres of the country's political elite will play out in the streets. While some in the anti-Ahmadinejad camp have reportedly warned of a "greater sedition than 2009", the electorate currently lacks the will or energy to mobilise behind any candidate associated with the status quo. | With many Iranians struggling to keep above water, it is unclear how the pre-election manoeuvres of the country's political elite will play out in the streets. While some in the anti-Ahmadinejad camp have reportedly warned of a "greater sedition than 2009", the electorate currently lacks the will or energy to mobilise behind any candidate associated with the status quo. |