Iranian Rial Hits Record Low as Economic Woes Deepen

The Iranian rial has hit an all-time low against the US dollar, dropping to 2 million rials per dollar on the free market. This comes after Washington's toughest sanctions yet in efforts to strangle Tehran's economy.

Iran's economy has been crippled by decades of US and international sanctions, particularly over its nuclear program. The current war with the US has exacerbated these problems, disrupting production and complicating imports and exports.

Al Jazeera tracked prices for basic necessities in Tehran to understand how much everyday items cost. They found that 2 million rials can now buy about half as much as it could before the war. Tomatoes have increased by 71%, chicken by 74%, and cooking oil by 177%.

Afsaneh, a mother of one from Tehran, said their family's weekly grocery bill has increased by 20 to 30%. 'Before the war, we could think about what we wanted to do three or six months down the road,' she explained. 'But now our only concern is making it to the end of the month with the income we have.'