The Indicator from Planet Money How Iran's flagging economy inflamed its protests
17 snips
Feb 17, 2026 The story traces how shop closures and a plunging currency ignited nationwide unrest. Bazaar networks and lending linked local strikes to mass protests. Inflation, sanctions, corruption and drought are shown as forces squeezing daily life. The narrative follows a bazari family's struggles and how essential goods became the last steady market.
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Bazaar Family Business Struggles
- Ali's family has run a workshop outside Tehran's Grand Bazaar for generations and now faces collapsing sales.
- He says managers
Inflation And Currency Collapse Bite Bazaars
- Iran's inflation sits around 50%, forcing heavy markups that deter customers.
- The rial's steep fall also raises import costs and squeezes bazaar margins.
Shopkeeper Closures Spark Nationwide Protests
- Shopkeepers outside the Grand Bazaar closed shops and sometimes staged sit-ins to protest economic hardship.
- Those bazaar actions quickly spread nationwide through existing merchant networks.