On the eve of International Workers’ Day, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of Iran addressed the nation, speaking of advancements in production and the prosperity of workers in glowing terms.

The irony of his message was palpable, as he portrayed Iranian workers as flourishing, awaiting only a “leap in production” to achieve greater heights. His speech, however, starkly contrasts with the reality facing most Iranians today.

According to the Iran Statistical Center, a staggering 60% of the population lives below the poverty line—a statistic that exposes the severe economic and social disparities in the country. Despite this, Khamenei’s discourse omitted any mention of the skyrocketing prices of essentials, which have forced children out of schools and into labor, pushed workers into multiple jobs, and driven some to migrate in search of better opportunities.

Khamenei’s narrative on worker prosperity and increased employment through economic participation echoes the age-old tactics of dictators who distort realities to paint a rosier picture of their regimes. He insists that the participation of the people in the economy, particularly in production, will lead to economic leaps. Yet, this ignores the broader context of an ongoing economic crisis, fueled by the government’s authoritarian policies, which have led to widespread unemployment and livelihood difficulties.

The disconnection between the supreme leader’s statements and the dire circumstances of Iranian workers was also evident in the composition of the audience at his speech.

Those present were not true representatives of the Iranian workforce but were instead individuals appointed by the regime. This has been a consistent practice over the past 45 years, where no independent labor unions or syndicates have been allowed to participate in such governmental meetings.

The stark absence of genuine worker representation at state functions is a deliberate strategy to prevent workers from organizing and demanding their rights through collective action. This suppression of collective power ensures that the workers remain fragmented and powerless against the demands and exploitations of the regime.

These include complaints about delayed wages, unemployment, and the marginalization and exploitation by the state forces. Such grievances underline the growing disconnect between the government’s portrayal of labor conditions and the harsh realities faced by the working class.

Each year on April 30, the resolutions of Iranian workers tell a different story from Khamenei’s assertions.

Khamenei’s narrative may claim economic improvement and a flourishing workforce, but the reality on the ground in Iran reveals a different story: one of struggle, suppression, and a cry for genuine reform and representation. As dissatisfaction grows, so does the potential for a broader and more impactful uprising, driven by the very workers Khamenei claims to champion.

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