An Iranian man shops in a local market as protests erupt over the collapse of the currency's value in Tehran, Iran, January 5, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY
(Tehran, Iran) – As Iran fills with protests over economic collapse. The country’s leadership has announced a new monthly cash payment to citizens worth roughly $7, a move that has been widely ridiculed and rejected by the public.
Government spokeswoman Fatima Mahajerani said the payment is intended to protect household purchasing power and stabilize access to food. But for many Iranians, the announcement has only intensified anger, as soaring prices and a rapidly devaluing currency have left families struggling to cover basic living costs that now exceed $200 per month for many households.
Demonstrations erupted in late December as merchants shuttered shops and students organized campus protests in multiple cities. Over the past year, Iran’s currency has lost more than 50 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar, while official inflation surpassed 42 percent in December – a figure many economists believe understates the true cost-of-living surge.
Public response to the payment has been overwhelmingly hostile. Protesters have dismissed it as insulting and symbolic, accusing authorities of attempting to placate unrest with a sum already erased by inflation. Chants during demonstrations mocked the offer, with some protesters suggesting the money be handed to officials accused of corruption or fuel smuggling instead.
The unrest has now entered its tenth day and spread to 22 of Iran’s 31 provinces. While smaller than previous nationwide uprisings, the protests have expanded beyond economic demands to include calls for political change and an end to the Islamic Republic’s rule.
Officials say the payments will be funded by redirecting roughly $10 billion previously used to subsidize imports. Under the plan, the funds – equal to about one million Iranian toman per person – would be distributed to nearly 80 million citizens, reportedly as limited-purpose loans for essential goods. Authorities have not specified which items would qualify.
Economic analysts remain skeptical. Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, said the policy appears aimed at calming traders and the poorest households but is unlikely to reverse widespread despair over Iran’s economic trajectory.
For many Iranians, the payment has become a symbol not of relief, but of how disconnected the government has become from daily reality.
So what can you even buy in Iran for $7?
- About 100 eggs
- Just over 2 pounds of beef
- A few kilograms of rice
- One modest café visit
