Iran Economic Crisis Pushes Desperate Citizens to Sell Organs
Severe economic crisis in Iran forces citizens to sell organs such as kidneys and testicles to pay off heavy debts, amid soaring poverty and inflation.
The severe economic crisis in Iran, exacerbated by ongoing tensions with the USA, is driving citizens to desperate measures, with walls in Tehran covered in advertisements offering organs for sale to clear heavy debts. According to reports, streets near medical centers have become informal marketplaces where impoverished Iranians attempt to sell kidneys, liver tissue, bone marrow, and testicles.
Black market prices for organs vary depending on demand and blood type. A citizen can earn between 30 and 40 billion rials for a kidney, while rare blood types can fetch up to 50 billion rials. Desperate sellers include a 30-year-old courier holding out for higher offers and a 58-year-old independent worker offering a discount for immediate cash, with others even offering package deals combining a kidney, liver tissue, and a testicle.
The socio-economic reality in the country remains grim. Officials acknowledge that millions of Iranians struggle to afford basic food items and live in extreme poverty, while the average monthly household expenditure far exceeds the standard minimum wage. Human rights organizations note that the regime largely turns a blind eye to the illegal organ trade, which exploits society's most vulnerable populations while failing to crack down effectively on the industry.
