Iran’s Middle Class Is Being Pushed Toward Poverty

The ongoing war has deepened Iran’s economic crisis, tightening the squeeze on household budgets and damaging businesses. Now, economists warn that millions of middle-income families are sliding closer to poverty, as inflation and job losses erode the financial security that once defined this social group. For many Iranians, the cost of basic goods has risen sharply, while wages have failed to keep pace. Small business owners, in particular, report falling revenues and rising operating costs, forcing some to cut staff or close entirely. The result is a growing sense of uncertainty among families who previously considered themselves financially stable. The trend is not uniform across the country, but the overall direction is clear: the middle class is shrinking, and the ranks of the poor are expanding. Without significant economic relief, experts say, this shift could become permanent, reshaping Iran’s social landscape for years to come.