In the heart of Tehran, a generation of young Iranians is grappling with a profound sense of suspended animation. As economic conditions deteriorate and anti-government protests flare, their personal dreams and professional ambitions are being crushed under the weight of uncertainty. The Guardian spoke to several residents this week, who painted a stark picture of collapsing living standards and a desperate search for hope.
Dreams Deferred: The Personal Cost of Crisis
Mahsa, a 36-year-old fashion designer, embodies the personal wreckage of the economic crisis. After years of building her business, she had secured a major promotion with a prominent influencer. The current turmoil scuppered the deal, leaving her with devalued money and unsold winter fabrics. "I feel like I have to start all over again," she said, describing a deep depression that keeps her at home. She yearns for freedom but holds little hope, noting the larger 2022 protests after Mahsa Amini's death failed to bring change. Her father, in his 70s, still works for a meagre salary, a fact that troubles her deeply.
This sentiment of stasis is echoed by Majid, 36, who is now unemployed. His decorative stone business collapsed under inflation. "I have reached the conclusion that staying inactive and not working actually brings more benefits," he stated, a view shared by his friends. Economic strain contributed to his divorce after he and his wife failed to keep up with house payments. "The government has created a situation where everyone wants to screw each other over just to survive," he lamented. For him, theatre rehearsals are a sole escape from a "numb depression."
Precarious Livelihoods and Political Skepticism
The economic paralysis extends to entrepreneurs like Moien, 40, a clothing store owner. With the rial's sharp fall against the dollar, market strikes, and online shop shutdowns, he faces heavy losses on unsold winter stock. He believes Iran is a "failed" country that would need half a century to rebuild even if the regime fell today. He is deeply skeptical of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah, seeing him as a "puppet" who would merely follow foreign orders. Moien plans to emigrate within three years, fearing domestic producers like him will be devastated in any transition.
Farshad, a 37-year-old interior designer, is under severe stress from dollar-denominated debts that have doubled in cost. He lives alone in a high-rent apartment, seeing no future in protests alone. He speculates that US military intervention, despite initial hardship, could ultimately reconnect Iran with global markets. While not a Pahlavi supporter, he concludes, "even Pahlavi coming to power would be better than the current situation."
A Spectrum of Hope and Resistance
Amid the gloom, pockets of cautious hope and defiance persist. Hasan, 29, a trader in Tehran's Grand Bazaar where the December protests began, remains committed to strikes. "I believe these protests and demonstrations will eventually create some change," he said, predicting repeated phases of uprising. He advocates for the core of the Islamic Republic to be removed through gradual reform within existing structures to avoid chaotic collapse.
Sasha, a 35-year-old sports coach, hopes for the regime's collapse and a democratic republic. However, he believes overcoming the Revolutionary Guard is impossible without the army staging a coup. His federation has threatened expulsion for any member sharing protest content, silencing his public dissent.
In contrast, Ashkan, 28, who lives off a generous allowance from his restaurateur father, displays stark optimism. He is "certain" the US will intervene and the Islamic Republic will fall by the end of January, with Pahlavi's return making "everything perfect." His father's businesses, he claims, have been unaffected, even benefitting from increased travel.
Despite their differing outlooks, a unifying thread is the crippling impact of isolation. As Majid poignantly stated, reflecting on Iran's disconnection from the world: "Our kids are full of brilliance, full of talent... but in isolation, they'll never flourish." For now, these young adults in Tehran remain trapped in a painful limbo, their futures hostage to forces far beyond their control.
