"An official in Iran's labor and social affairs ministry said the war has put a million people out of work, as top employers in the oil and manufacturing sectors have suffered damage. Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned Wednesday that the U.S. blockade represented a "new phase" of war. "The enemy has pinned great hope on economic pressure," he said."
"The government has urged Iranians to limit consumption of water, electricity and gas, while authorities in the capital called on residents use public transportation instead of their cars. Iran's steel industry encouraged companies to ration their use of steel sheets. First vice president Mohammad Reza Aref also admitted that prices for certain products soared by more than 100% in less than a week."
"The overall annual inflation rate hit 67% in mid-April from a year earlier, according to Iran's central bank. That tracks with assessments in mid-April, when residents of Tehran and other cities told Reuters that some prices have shot up around 40% in the six weeks after the war started. Prior to that, food inflation had soared to an annual rate of 64% in October, then accelerated further to 105% by February, vaulting overall inflation to 47.5% on the eve of war."
Spiraling inflation and a collapsing currency triggered mass protests in late December and early January, followed by a brutal crackdown estimated to have killed tens of thousands. The U.S. and Israeli bombardment has not toppled the regime, but economic forces have worsened and are now acknowledged by Iranian officials. A labor and social affairs ministry official said the war has put about a million people out of work as oil and manufacturing employers suffered damage. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the U.S. blockade marks a new phase of war and relies on economic pressure. The government urged limits on water, electricity, and gas, promoted public transportation, and encouraged rationing of steel sheets. Prices for some products rose by more than 100% in less than a week, with annual inflation reaching 67% by mid-April.
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