On August 16, 2023, a revealing acknowledgment was published by the state-run Roydad24, citing Ali Saadvandi, a state-affiliated economist. He candidly stated, “In the last 20 years, we had roughly $1.5 trillion worth of foreign exchange resources, but we wasted them our country could have progressed like countries such as Japan.”

The confession discloses a mismanagement of funds equivalent to an astonishing $62,500 per family, based on the 24 million family units in Iran. This alarming figure highlights the economic hardships faced by the average Iranian household, including housing shortages, unemployment, and skyrocketing prices.

The effects of this financial malfeasance are palpable in the tales of poverty and desperation: graveyards being used as shelters, children forsaking education for labor, families seeking refuge in the peripheries of cities, and individuals contemplating selling organs for survival.

Earlier this year, the regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, paradoxically warned of “the hydra of corruption.” This same “corruption hydra” closely tied to Khamenei, his financial entities, and the Revolutionary Guards – has been misusing Iran’s wealth for terrorism and pursuits like nuclear armament.

The ramifications of this unchecked corruption reach beyond Iran’s borders. By comparing Iran’s GDP per capita with neighboring nations like Turkey and Azerbaijan from 2000 to 2022, it’s evident that the economic divide is widening. The head of the National Development Fund further highlighted this concern, cautioning about an impending reliance on neighboring countries for essentials.

In a disconcerting response to revelations of financial support to Syria and Lebanon, purportedly for housing crises, the state-run Resalat daily retorted in late 2020, referencing the Supreme Leader’s previous affirmations: “We help, and we’re unapologetic about it.” Hezbollah leader, Seyyed Hasan Nasrallah, unabashedly acknowledged receiving sustenance and armament from Iran. These funds, however, have been implicated in the degradation of Lebanon, not its rebuilding.

Insider information from the “Ghiyam ta Sarnegouni” group further reveals the regime’s allocation of over $50 billion to Syria, leading to tragic consequences for the Syrian populace, including countless deaths and widespread displacement.

The conclusion is unambiguous: for Iran to find a solution to its economic disaster, a regime change is imperative. The ongoing financial crisis is not merely an accidental offshoot but a direct consequence of the ruling theocracy’s actions and decisions.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu