Iran: Various Challenges Amid Multiple Crises Publisher



Mosadeghrad A M
Source: Socioeconomic Challenges Amidst a Global Triple Threat of Conflicts, COVID-19, and Climate Change: Western Countries and Nations Under International Sanctions (Part 3) Published:2026

Abstract

Iran navigates a multifaceted socioeconomic crisis marked by the compounding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic sanctions, involvement in the Ukraine and Syria wars, and escalating climate and environmental challenges. The prolonged sanctions, intensified by the 2018 reinstatement, led to the highest inflation and lowest growth by 2019, straining healthcare infrastructure and causing drug shortages crucial during the pandemic. The economic strain deepened during COVID19, increasing unemployment and poverty rates, doubling extreme poverty, and diminishing the average per capita calorie intake. Iran's strategic alignment with Russia in the Ukraine war, providing support and leveraging the crisis for geopolitical gains, further complicates its economic outlook. Simultaneously, its involvement in the Syrian conflict compounds regional dynamics, involving substantial financial investments and military support. Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, impacting agriculture, public health, tourism, and gender dynamics, with rising temperatures, air pollution, and climate-sensitive diseases posing significant threats. Iranian women face heightened vulnerability due to gender disparities during natural disasters and climate-induced crises, necessitating gender-inclusive adaptation strategies. Environmental concerns, exemplified by protests around Lake Orumiyeh and the 2009 Green Movement, reflect widespread discontent with environmental degradation, water mismanagement, and government actions. © 2026, Bentham Books imprint.