Why Do Iranians Born in the 1980s Call Themselves the ‘Burned Generation’?

Tehran (Iran) – Iranians born in the 1980s often describe themselves as the ‘burned generation.’ Their lives have been spent amid the ongoing political and economic upheavals that began after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution.

In 1979, Iranian Islamic militants held American diplomats, including the US ambassador, hostage for 444 days during the event known as the ‘American Embassy hostage crisis,’ reflecting the turbulent political climate of that era.

In subsequent decades, an eight-year war with neighboring Iraq, the Islamic Republic’s imposed cultural revolution, the killing of political prisoners, sanctions, and economic instability further complicated life for many.

Bardia, 23, living with his parents in eastern Tehran, says today’s youth face even tougher circumstances compared to older generations born in the 1980s. He observes an increasingly unstable job market and rising inflation.

“The dreams of living independently, starting families, traveling abroad, buying homes, shops, cars, or new phones are drifting further away day by day,” he told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Decades of Challenges:

Decades of internal misgovernance, corruption, and foreign intervention have made life extremely challenging for nearly 90 million Iranians. This situation predated any potential war between the US and Israel with Iran before February 28 of this year.

Ongoing US bombing campaigns, stricter sanctions, and maritime blockades this year have worsened conditions. January’s anti-government protests and internet restrictions further affected daily life.

Last week, the government raised petrol prices, anticipated to cause further inflation. Many now expect conditions to deteriorate before improvements arrive.

For Bardia, a business administration student working at a downtown Tehran café, daily survival is difficult. His father is a pensioner who supplements income by driving through an online ride-hailing app. They own an old, 15-year-old Iranian-made car. His mother, a retired clothing industry worker, occasionally sews to help financially.

Combined government cash subsidies and food aid give the family a monthly income of about 800 million rials, roughly 350 US dollars, but expenses continue to rise rapidly.

“We buy meat only once every six to eight weeks,” Bardia said. The family has stopped eating out, ordering takeout, buying new clothes, or home items. They worry about medical costs disrupting their tight budget.

Official Iranian data shows annual inflation reached 89% by the end of August, with food prices increasing more than 127% compared to the same month last year.

The national currency, the rial, continues to weaken. Last week, the open market rate for one US dollar hit a new high above 1,370,000 rials.

By Sunday, the rate slightly improved to about 1,310,000 rials, likely influenced by potential agreements to ease restricted movements through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran maintains it will not negotiate with the United States unless demands such as lifting maritime blockades and sanctions are met.

Maritime blockades have halted most of Iran’s oil exports. US sanctions and regional tensions have also disrupted air, road, and rail transport, worsening public hardships.

One Iranian user on social media platform X wrote, “I remember the day my father bought a car for 10 million tomans (100 million rials, about 43 USD) and the day he purchased land at the same price. Today he brought home a small amount of meat that costs 10 million tomans. I’m shocked. I’m 24 years old and I’ve witnessed all this.”

In recent weeks, videos on social media showing people paying exorbitant sums for small quantities of food and essentials have gone viral.

Some have reacted with irony or sarcasm rather than complaints to express resilience, due to the risks of imprisonment or capital punishment for protestors.

Last week, Iranian state television described these videos as part of a “new riot incitement plan by opponents of the Islamic Republic.”

“Declining Tolerance”

Despite decades of pressure, Iran’s economy has shown remarkable resilience amid political instability, sanctions, currency fluctuations, and the region’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.

Yet, in less than a year, Iranians have endured both an energy crisis and two wars triggered by the US and Israel.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders have repeatedly called for an end to the current “neither war nor peace” status, which they say breeds uncertainty and weakens the economy.

Economist and market analyst Behnam Samadi says the political and economic uncertainty is exacting a heavy toll on Iran. Both the government and families face difficulty taking decisive steps toward improvement.

“Families have shifted from long-term planning to preserving current purchasing power. Businesses are allocating resources toward risk management and maintaining existing operations rather than new investments,” Samadi told Al Jazeera. “The government is forced to increase spending on social assistance, foreign currency management, and crisis resolution.”

Currently, many Iranians are less focused on when the economy might collapse and more concerned about how long the hardship will last and what the cost will be.

Households are gradually adapting lifestyles and consumption habits, cutting back on entertainment, education, and healthcare spending. Borrowing and installment payments for purchases are increasing, shifting some economic pressures into the future.

“The best description is that Iranian families are adapting to circumstances, but this does not mean their living standards are maintained,” says Samadi. “Iran’s economic resilience is holding together due to reduced consumption, lower savings, and a decline in family welfare.”

He adds, “This is a crucial issue to monitor—if conditions persist, what we call ‘resilience’ may gradually turn into a ‘decay of resilience.’”

(Translated summary of material originally published by Al Jazeera)