War and Sanctions Push Tehran Workers to Sacrifice Food Quality

Fixed-income workers in Tehran are turning to longer hours and additional jobs as their purchasing power erodes, with pressure on household budgets increasingly shaping what they put on the table.

Employees and professionals described difficult adjustments to make ends meet amid war and sanctions. Their responses include working overtime, doubling their monthly shifts and taking on work through ride-hailing apps.

Those measures reflect the growing strain on people whose regular earnings no longer cover their needs as they once did. Holding a steady job has not spared them from having to seek additional income.

At mealtimes, the pressure is reflected in a shift toward quantity at the expense of quality. Keeping enough food on the table has become a priority, narrowing households’ choices over what they eat.

The accounts from Tehran show how the squeeze on purchasing power reaches beyond spending decisions. Workers are also giving up more of their time to protect household budgets, extending their working lives into hours previously left for rest.