A recent revelation by Masoud Roghani Zanjani, former head of Iran’s Planning and Budget Organization, has exposed a chilling strategy at the core of the country’s theocratic regime. In an interview with Abdi Media on March 9, 2025, Roghani Zanjani disclosed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei once told former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, “If people become prosperous, they will abandon religion.” This statement underscores the Iranian government’s deliberate use of economic hardship as a tool to maintain power.
Iran, despite its vast natural resources, remains mired in economic turmoil. While officials often blame international sanctions, the reality is more sinister: economic distress is a state policy aimed at suppressing dissent. By keeping its citizens in perpetual struggle for survival, the regime ensures they lack the time and energy to challenge authority.
Clerical Regime in #Iran Profits as the U.S. Dollar Surges Against the Rialhttps://t.co/or1FnhU39N
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 24, 2025
Iran’s leadership, rather than working toward economic development, actively cultivates poverty as a means of control. The country’s economy, burdened by corruption and mismanagement, sees widespread unemployment and inflation rates that cripple ordinary citizens. While the right to a decent standard of living is enshrined in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, millions of Iranians face severe deprivation, unable to afford basic necessities such as food, healthcare, and housing.
Under Khamenei’s rule, Iran’s currency, the rial, has lost over 90% of its value in the past decade. This decline has led to skyrocketing inflation, with food prices increasing by over 300% since 2022. The working class, particularly women and youth, are disproportionately affected as unemployment soars and job opportunities shrink.
Beyond mismanagement, the regime has actively contributed to economic stagnation. By depleting the value of the rial, authorities ensure that citizens are unable to afford necessities, leaving them dependent and desperate. The combination of hyperinflation and economic insecurity leaves little room for organized opposition, reinforcing Khamenei’s grip on power.
Leaked Documents Expose #Iranian MPs’ Lucrative Salaries Amidst #Economic Hardshiphttps://t.co/5g9znjbBTk
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 16, 2024
A key element of Iran’s economic control lies in the powerful Bonyads, or charitable foundations, which operate as unregulated economic entities under the direct supervision of the Supreme Leader. Organizations such as the Mostazafan Foundation and Astan Quds Razavi dominate major sectors, from banking to construction. Instead of alleviating poverty, these institutions serve as financial lifelines for the ruling elite, deepening the wealth gap between the privileged few and the struggling majority.
The hypocrisy is glaring: while millions suffer in extreme poverty, Khamenei’s family enjoys luxury abroad. Women in provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan face inadequate healthcare, even dying in childbirth due to lack of medical facilities, while Iran’s elite access top-tier hospitals in London and Canada.
Beyond material deprivation, the Iranian government weaponizes poverty to prevent political mobilization. The logic is simple: a population preoccupied with daily survival lacks the capacity to organize against the state. This was evident during the 2017–2018 and 2019–2020 protests, sparked by economic despair and swiftly crushed by security forces.
While the people of #Iran suffer from hunger and poverty, the regime invests millions in religious influence abroad. Watch and judge the admissions of this #IRGC official pic.twitter.com/XXXYj2dvRS
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 8, 2023
If a government deliberately engineers suffering for political survival, does this not constitute a crime against humanity? Under international law, systematic economic oppression can be classified as persecution, prosecutable under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The global community must recognize Iran’s policies for what they are: not mere economic mismanagement, but a calculated strategy to suppress opposition.
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