Iran faces mounting protests as medicine prices soar and nuclear site activity rises

Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf warned that Iran cannot endure prolonged economic distress, a comment that reappeared amid new protests in Tehran, Ahvaz and other cities over food scarcity and stagnant financial flows. Demonstrators are also reacting to a sharp rise in medication prices, with acetaminophen up 375%, amoxicillin up 285%, fluoxetine up 100% and insulin costing up to six times more than a year ago. Parallel developments include increased road traffic at the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, suggesting continued expansion of Iran's nuclear program.

The United States has signaled possible strikes on the facility, while oil analysts note a 56% month-over-month increase in Gulf of Oman ship-to-ship crude transfers, reaching 7.15 million barrels per day. Nevertheless, Iranian crude has not breached the U.S. naval blockade since mid-July, and offshore reserves have fallen dramatically, tightening foreign-currency inflows and fueling public unrest.