Khamenei calls for greater efforts amid economic crisis

Iran’s economic situation is unsatisfactory, and the country’s residents are facing difficulties, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wrote on X.

“Of course, the economic situation is not good, the people’s livelihoods are truly facing difficulties, and I know this. Precisely for this reason, in these areas they must work TWICE as hard. For essential goods, livestock inputs, basic food supplies, and the general needs of the people, government officials must always work twice as hard & with greater seriousness. There is no doubt about this," Khamenei said, per Caliber.Az.

He directed his "firm recommendation" to President Masoud Pezeshkian, heads of other government branches, and active leaders, urging them to intensify efforts amid the crisis.

initially triggered by a dramatic collapse of the Iranian rial (reaching record lows around 1.4–1.5 million to the USD) and soaring inflation (over 40–50%, with food prices up 70%+).

Protests began on December 28 in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, where shopkeepers closed stores and marched against economic hardship, including the end of subsidised imports and fuel price hikes. They quickly spread to all 31 provinces, evolving from economic demands into anti-regime chants and calls for regime change, with some invoking the pre-1979 monarchy.

The government responded with violent crackdowns, internet blackouts, mass arrests, and live fire, resulting in thousands of deaths.