Iran Assessment – People no longer trust the regime Issue 9, 09/06/21
During the past few days, more than 19 percent of the people have withdrawn their short-term and long-term investments from the banks. Another report on the banking system indicates that some as recipients (businessmen) of the foreign currency for importing covid-19 vaccine have received 1,000 billion tomans (more than $230 million), from the government vaccine funds but so far none has been spent for purchasing and/or importing any vaccines. In addition, another source in the banking system, reported more than 1,400 billion tomans has been borrowed by three individuals aged between 13 and 17 years old.
Further the price of domestically manufactured medicine has increased between 12 and 20 percent and the imported medicine by 30 percent. At present, more than 12 provinces are experiencing shortages of oxygen capsules in public and private hospitals. Further, an armed group has attacked an AstraZeneca vaccine convoy in Yaftabad, Tehran. In addition, it is recorded that more than 1,500 nurses and 300 specialized medical doctors immigrate from Iran annually, leaving Iran health services in a dire shortage of experienced/expert health service personnel.
Surveys show, in 15 provinces people have been protesting again for insufficiency of their wages, salaries, and benefits. It is estimated 45% of people in Iran cannot buy their basic food materials including red meat and 22% cannot even buy rice and frozen or hot chicken to prepare for their meals.
Power outages have occurred extensively, last week, in more than 9 provinces. The power outages have been experienced by more than 3 times daily. However, the power outage has mostly been by removing power from the grid, where households have access to electricity.
The Iran Revolutionary Guard Core (IRGC) by invitation from Taliban, have visited the U.S. vacated bases in Afghanistan, took samples, and had managed transferring some of the remaining electronic devices, equipment and machinery to Iran for study and reverse engineering: reverse engineering has already began on some of these equipment.
