Today (Monday), the Iranian judiciary announced the execution of a man it convicted of providing assistance in an attack on a police station and other attacks.
She said that Omar Drostaran was executed by hanging yesterday (Sunday), after he was convicted of providing support for an attack targeting a police station in the city of Rask in southeastern Iran in 2024, which resulted in the killing of 11 members of the security forces.
The “Mizan Online” website, affiliated with the judiciary, reported that Omar Drostaran, a member of the terrorist group, the Army of Zalm (Justice), was executed by hanging after his arrest, the completion of legal procedures, and the Supreme Court’s ratification of the sentence issued against him. The “Army of Justice” organization is a group opposed to the Tehran authorities.
He added that Drostaran provided "logistical support" that included helping militants enter Iran, securing places for them to stay, and transporting them to carry out attacks.
He was also accused of providing support for attacks targeting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Sistan-Baluchestan province in the southeast of the country.
According to Mizan, Drostaran was sentenced to death on charges that included armed rebellion, belonging to the organization, and participating in armed action.
On Sunday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the arrest of three members of the organization and its collaborators during a raid on a house in Sistan-Baluchestan province.
Sistan-Baluchestan Province, one of the poorest Iranian provinces, has long witnessed clashes between security forces and armed groups, including Sunni militants and members of the Baloch ethnic minority.
Clashes have renewed between armed groups and Iranian security forces in the region in recent weeks. Iran has long accused the United States and Israel of supporting these groups.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said today (Monday) that Tehran “has no doubt that destabilization on our country’s borders is part of the malicious plan of the Zionist regime and the United States.”
Iran carries out more death sentences annually than any other country except China, according to human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. Iran imposes the death penalty for several crimes, including murder and security-related crimes.
In an Iranian market whose halls smell of herbs and spices, 61-year-old merchant Nasser watches how the American-Iranian war changed the features of commercial life. After customers were buying nuts by kilograms, the sharp increases in prices prompted many to reduce their purchases, which put stores and companies facing increasing difficulties in maintaining their business.
The bazaar, located in northern Tehran, was usually crowded with shoppers, but its stores have become almost empty, and it is no longer frequented by only a limited number of customers who move in its narrow and ancient aisles. This scene reflects a remarkable transformation in a market where merchants used to promote their goods in loud voices amid an active buying movement.
Nasser said: “We had customers buying between two and five kilograms. But now, they are satisfied with buying only one kilogram to half a kilogram.”
He added, referring to the price increases, “Prices are already high. We all know that, and it would be a lie to say otherwise.”
The merchant called on the authorities to stabilize the currency exchange rate, allowing business owners and companies to plan for the future, saying: “We are lost, we all are.”
Years of sanctions
Years of sanctions have burdened the Iranian economy, but the war that broke out in February with the American and Israeli attacks, along with the American blockade on Iranian ports, increased pressure on economic activity and the daily life of the population.
The situation worsened as inflation rose to about 90 percent on an annual basis in September, according to official figures, while sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate caused an increase in the cost of basic goods, and food prices rose to more than double their levels a year ago.
In the historic bazaar in Tajrish Square in Tehran, residents are trying to adapt to the deteriorating economic conditions, as they wander among Iranian flags and signs written in Persian, and examine sweets, jewelry, traditional clothes and cuts of meat ahead of the weekend.
In one of the alleys, an artist was playing the guitar, while another was banging his hands on a wooden box, trying to attract some tips from passers-by.
“We need stability”
But behind these scenes, concerns are growing about the future of commercial activities, in light of declining demand and rising operating costs.
Ali Norouzi (36 years old), who runs a sports clothing store in the bazaar, said that merchants are waging a “final and desperate battle for survival,” adding that manufacturers are declaring bankruptcy, laying off employees, and closing their stores, which in turn is reflected in the rest of the commercial activity.
Norouzi explained that he was now ordering limited quantities of goods to display in his store, to avoid the shelves appearing empty, similar to his warehouse, which he said had become almost empty due to weak demand.
He added: “We have no plan for the future at all. When people stop buying, it practically means the business goes bankrupt,” he said, noting in particular the rise in rents and utility bills. He concluded by saying: “All we need is some stability.”
As for Azadeh, a 45-year-old woman who is currently unemployed, she said that she now goes to the market just to “see the stores,” which is an indication of the decline in the ability of some residents to buy.
Decline in purchasing power
Official figures indicate that Iran's gross domestic product contracted by 10.1 percent on an annual basis between late March and late June, in light of the increasing pressures resulting from the war.
In the unofficial exchange market, the Iranian currency was traded last week at about 2.7 million riyals per dollar, compared to about 1.7 million riyals before the outbreak of the war.
The dollar value of the monthly minimum wage decreased from about $120 a year ago to about $65 currently, which reflects the erosion of purchasing power with the rising costs of living.
On the other hand, the Iranian Minister of Economy rejected expectations of an imminent economic collapse, accusing his country's opponents of seeking to raise fears among citizens and push exchange rates to rise further.
Prices “soared”... and purchases decreased
Azadeh provides an example of the size of the increase in prices, noting that a piece of kitchen cloth that she bought several months ago for 22 cents is now priced at $1.10, equivalent to 5 times its previous price. She said: “This shows that prices have not only risen, but have actually reached enormous levels.”
She added that she had to stop buying some types of fruit, and was no longer able to afford vacations.
She wondered: “Our existence should not only be linked to being alive, but we are supposed to actually live our lives, right?”
The repercussions of the crisis are not limited to stores and food markets, but extend to services and crafts that depend on household spending.
Mojtaba Rezaei (57 years old), a car mechanic, said that the number of his customers had fallen to a tenth of its previous level, at a time when the prices of goods had risen two or three times.
He added, in an interview with Agence France-Presse inside the bazaar: “I actually feel embarrassed when I inform customers of the prices. People just come to inquire about the price and then leave.”
He continued that activities that were part of the daily life of Iranians, such as buying clothes, going out for entertainment, and eating in restaurants, have become out of reach for many.
Between store sales declining, wages eroding, and families reducing their purchases to a minimum, merchants and consumers find themselves facing increasing pressure, while economic stability remains an urgent requirement in a market exhausted by sanctions, war, and inflation.
