Iran judiciary warns of harsh penalties for economic disruption

Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said those whose actions increase pressure on people’s livelihoods – whether deliberately or not – would be warned and, if they persist, prosecuted, according to remarks carried by state media.

“Those who, knowingly or unknowingly, put added pressure on people and their livelihoods and effectively move in the direction of the enemy’s objectives must be cautioned,” Ejei said. “If they do not heed these warnings, they must be seriously pursued and punished by the relevant authorities.”

Ejei framed economic disruptions as part of what he described as coordinated “psychological and economic pressure” by Iran’s adversaries, saying judicial authorities must respond decisively.

He cited laws allowing harsh penalties for acts deemed to constitute “corruption on earth,” a charge that can carry the death penalty, including in cases of large-scale economic disruption.

He said penalties such as fines were insufficient in the current climate. “These fines are not deterrent,” Ejei said, calling for punishments proportionate to current conditions.

The judiciary chief also stressed that responsibility extended beyond traders to officials who enable economic violations. He warned that individuals inside government bodies who facilitate hoarding, smuggling or currency abuses would face prosecution.

Addressing currency volatility, Ejei said authorities must identify those responsible for market instability.

He cited figures from central bank officials indicating that around $18 billion in export revenues had not been returned to the country.

The warning comes amid sharp falls in the rial, accelerating inflation and protests by shopkeepers in Tehran over rising costs and economic mismanagement.

In a statement carried by state media, the judiciary’s media center said reports that a decision by the heads of Iran’s three branches of power had endorsed the continuation of Mohammad Reza Farzin as central bank governor were “not true.”

“No decision was taken in the meeting of the heads of powers regarding the retention of the central bank governor,” the statement said, adding that the matter falls within the authority of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The denial follows two days of conflicting reports in Iranian media over whether Farzin had resigned, been dismissed, or would remain in office.

Some outlets reported that Farzin had submitted his resignation earlier in December and that a committee had begun reviewing candidates to replace him, while others said he had been kept on with the backing of senior political leaders.

Later on Monday, the president’s office confirmed that Farzin had submitted his resignation, but said it had not yet been approved by the president.

The judiciary’s clarification came as Iran grapples with a sharp deterioration in economic conditions, marked by a steep fall in the rial and accelerating inflation.

On Monday, the US dollar traded about 1.41 million rials on the open market, while gold prices also hit record highs, prompting protests and strikes by shopkeepers in parts of Tehran.

Farzin, who was appointed under former president Ebrahim Raisi and retained after Pezeshkian took office, has faced growing criticism from lawmakers over currency instability and the central bank’s handling of foreign exchange shortages.

Reports of tension between Farzin and members of parliament surfaced earlier this month during a closed-door session ahead of the government’s submission of its draft budget, with some media saying the governor offered no new solutions to curb currency volatility.

President Pezeshkian has acknowledged the strain caused by energy subsidies and foreign exchange pressures, but has said the government lacks the resources to shield households fully from inflation.

An Iranian media outlet affiliated with the IRGC Quds Force said protests by shopkeepers had been encouraged by “enemy” support, after sharing a social media post by Israel’s Persian-language account highlighting the demonstrations.

The channel said that the unrest had begun with backing from hostile actors and urged Iranian authorities to respond to public grievances, warning that failure to do so could “open the path” to renewed conflict with Israel.

Traders in the historic Chaharsouq bazaar joined the strike, while Tehran’s gold market remained shut and shopkeepers gathered for a protest on Lalehzar Street.

Merchants at other markets, including Jafari bazaar and parts of the Shoush wholesale district, were also reported to have stopped work.

The latest closures follow protests on Sunday by mobile phone traders outside the Iran Mobile Center and the Alaeddin Mobile Shopping Center on Hafez Street in central Tehran. V

ideos sent to Iran International showed crowds chanting antigovernment slogans, with passersby later joining demonstrations near Jomhouri Street.

Reports also circulated on social media of protests at Tehran’s Charsou mall, while iron market traders were said to have closed their shops to protest the currency’s decline.

The unrest comes as Iran’s rial slid to new record lows, weakening to around 1,445,000 per dollar on Sunday, compared with about 1,370,000 the day before and roughly 1,140,000 a month earlier, according to open market rates.

Iran has been grappling with soaring prices and currency volatility. Official data show food prices have risen by more than 66% over the past year, while year-on-year inflation reached 52.6% in December.

There were no immediate reports of security force intervention on Monday.

Shopkeepers in Tehran extended strikes into a second day on Monday, with closures reported across several key markets amid mounting economic pressure, according to information received by Iran International.

Traders in the historic Chaharsouq bazaar joined the strike, while Tehran’s gold market remained shut and shopkeepers gathered for a protest on Lalehzar Street, the outlet reported.

Merchants at a few other markets were also reported to have stopped work, as signs of unrest spread across parts of the capital’s commercial districts.