Iranian authorities' efforts to solicit public donations for Hezbollah, their main proxy in Lebanon, have sparked anger among impoverished citizens enduring five years of 40% annual inflation.
Over the past week, banners and messages have appeared on the highways and over the bridges across Tehran, urging people to express readiness to donate to war-affected Lebanese. In reality, the government is gathering funds for its backed militant group, Hezbollah.
These fundraising campaigns come at a time when Iran’s own economy is under pressure, with inflation and the rising cost of living taking a toll on the population.
Hezbollah also receives financial, political, and military support—including weapons and training—from Iran. While the level of Iranian assistance has fluctuated over the years, US officials estimated in 2018 that Iran transfers around $700 million annually to Hezbollah.
A banner in Tehran asks citizens to send an SMS to express readiness to donate to the Lebanese while similar campaigns on state TV and through Basij text messages are encouraging people to donate cash, gold, or even take on the financial responsibility of supporting a Lebanese family.
These efforts have drawn criticism from ordinary Iranians, who feel that the government is prioritizing foreign interests over domestic needs.
Ali Shirazi, an Iranian journalist, told Iran International TV that Tehran has been sending significant financial aid to Hezbollah despite the economic difficulties at home. “It was revealed that the Islamic Republic was sending funds of 50 million dollars per month to support this group. But this is not the only expense. Military, weaponry, drones, and missile assistance are also provided, and the reconstruction of damaged buildings falls on Iran’s budget,” he added.
Iran's financial and military support for Hezbollah has come under more scrutiny following Israeli strikes on Hezbollah-linked financial institutions, including the Al-Qard al-Hasan bank in Beirut. The strikes disrupted Hezbollah's access to funds, revealing Iran’s role in providing financial and military assistance to the group. This has angered Iranians further, as their own economy continues to deteriorate.
The dissatisfaction is evident among Iranian citizens, many of whom expressed their frustration to Iran International. “The rise in currency exchange rates, the dollar, and the increasing prices of gold have had a very negative impact, destroying the weaker and lower-income classes,” said a man from Tehran. He added, “People are now finding their food in garbage bins. More than two million students couldn’t attend school this year.”
Some others are calling for a redirection of funds towards addressing domestic issues rather than supporting foreign militant groups. “If we want to help, we prefer to support our fellow compatriots, especially those in need in provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan, rather than sending money to Hamas and Hezbollah,” said a businessman from the northern city of Rasht.
The government’s push for donations has been seen as out of touch with the reality faced by most Iranians. “For 45 years, we haven’t heard any good news from the media. If the money spent on Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine were spent in Iran, everything would flourish,” commented another citizen.
As inflation continues to rise, with the US dollar trading at 670,000 rials and predictions of further price increases by the end of the year, Iranians are feeling the strain. Many are questioning the government’s priorities. The disconnect between the leadership and the people is becoming increasingly apparent.
“I don’t know how long we have to pay the price for Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, and a bunch of freeloaders, but the impact it’s had has paralyzed everyone’s lives. It’s been a year, and I haven’t been able to buy clothes for myself,” a retired citizen said.
The government’s fundraising for Hezbollah, viewed as insensitive to ordinary citizens' struggles, has further deepened the divide between the leadership and the people.