Pezeshkian, in an exclusive interview, elaborated on the impact of U.S. military actions in the Persian Gulf on the global energy market and Iran's economy. He predicted that Iran's economy would shrink by more than 25 percent this solar year and reported a severe shortage of heating fuel and gasoline in the winter season.
Livelihood and Economic Concerns
Pezeshkian advised Iranian citizens to take action as soon as possible to meet their needs for the cold season and suggested that they should not pay taxes. This recommendation received mixed reactions from the audience. Many citizens expressed concern about the economic realities of the country and criticized this advice, stating that not paying taxes is not simply possible.
Read more: New U.S. Sanctions Against Karnakis Law Firm for Assisting Iranian Transport Networks
Citizens pointed out that in Iran, taxes are automatically deducted from their salaries, and that not paying taxes does not mean avoiding legal debts. One user emphasized that "if you are a wage earner, it is deducted before your salary is deposited," reflecting the existing economic and social challenges in society.
Concerns About Fuel Supply
Pezeshkian also referred to the fuel supply situation in the winter season and warned of energy shortages. His prediction of a heating fuel shortage has raised significant concerns among citizens. Some users, in response to these warnings, pointed out the challenges of storing fuel in apartments, noting that in many cases, it is not possible to store fuel.
Additionally, some citizens highlighted the dangers of keeping flammable fuels in residential spaces and warned of the consequences. These concerns arise while Mohammad Reza Aref, the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic, previously announced on October 5 that damage to infrastructure has reduced the gas network's capacity by 250 million cubic meters.
Despite these challenges, some citizens have taken early steps to procure essential items for the winter season and have taken Pezeshkian's warning seriously. Currently, many people in Tehran are stockpiling medicine and food and preparing to leave the capital. Meanwhile, some citizens, pointing to livelihood problems and the inability to cover daily expenses, noted that meeting living costs is harder than stockpiling essential items.
This situation reflects the complex challenges faced by the people of Iran and calls for serious attention and action from officials.
Read more: Abbas Araghchi Emphasized Regional Security at the OIC Meeting · Meeting of Senior Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani Officials in Tehran
