Amidst a wave of protests sweeping across Iran, the government has announced a new initiative to provide financial relief to its citizens. As reported, each individual will receive a monthly payment of approximately $7, aimed at mitigating the economic strain many are experiencing.
This announcement was made by Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, during a broadcast on Iranian State TV. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance household purchasing power, curb inflation, and ensure food security, according to The New York Times.
The new plan signifies a notable transition from the country’s traditional approach of import subsidies to a system of direct financial assistance. Historically, Iran has allocated around $10 billion annually to subsidize certain imports. With this change, those funds will now be redirected to provide direct support to the populace.
The decision comes at a time of significant unrest, with nationwide protests highlighting the public’s dissatisfaction with the current economic conditions. Images released by the Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, depict protesters clashing with security forces, underscoring the tension within the country.
A protester faces Iranian security forces during clashes amid nationwide unrest, according to images released by the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran. (NCRI )
Under the proposal, roughly $10 billion that had been spent each year to subsidize certain imports, will now be given directly to the public.
Eligible Iranians will get one million Iranian tomans, which is around $7, and in the form of credit that can be used to buy goods.
The labor minister said the payments would be handed out to about 80 million people, which is the majority of Iran’s population.
Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Fars News Agency via AP)
Iran’s economy has been hit by sanctions and declining oil revenues which have led to protests.
The currency has lost more than half its value against the U.S. dollar.
The Statistical Center of Iran, a state-run body under Iran’s regime, reported in December that the average annual inflation rate also reached 42.2%, according to reports.
The payments were announced amid widespread protests that included merchants, traders and university students, according to the Times. Marketplaces have been shut down and rallies have been held on campuses.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pictured sitting next to a senior military official in Iran. (Getty Images)
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), the intensity of the protests has reached at least 78 cities and 222 locations.
Protesters have been demanding the end of the regime controlled by the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The group said the regime has killed at least 20 people, including three children, and arrested 990 people. Khamenei’s security forces have detained more than 40 children, HRAI noted.
