Sara, a 40-year-old graphic designer, once felt content with her personal life and looked forward to the future. However, everything changed in June 2025 when she lost her job due to the short-lived war, which was soon followed by crackdowns and further conflict. This series of events has left her feeling disillusioned and fearful about what lies ahead.
The Psychological Impact of Uncertainty
“For many of us, contemplating the future is incredibly stressful,” Sara shared. “There’s a pervasive feeling of hopelessness. Uncertainty is so overwhelming that any glimpse of good news can be snatched away in an instant.” Her sentiments reflect a broader concern among the populace, where anxiety and despair have overtaken optimism. Renowned sociologist Amin Parvin expressed similar thoughts, stating that witnessing unfulfilled expectations has replaced “the joy of hope” with a pervasive sense of despair.
This overarching anxiety is largely fueled by economic instability. Many individuals who have savings or investments are fearful of losing their hard-earned assets. Conversely, those without financial reserves are grappling with skyrocketing prices for essential items such as food and housing. Topics like foreign exchange rates and the fluctuating prices of gold and vehicles have garnered immense attention from Iranian news outlets, often overshadowing reports on the ongoing war and political negotiations.
Escalating Inequality and Social Discontent
At a recent seminar focusing on social optimism, sociologist Mehdi Malmir highlighted alarming statistics that underscore a significant decline in public satisfaction over the past two decades. In 2000, approximately 76% of the population expressed contentment with their lives, but by 2023, that number had plummeted to just 49.8%. In contrast, dissatisfaction surged to nearly 40%. Malmir attributed this decline to deteriorating welfare conditions and a general moral decline within society, warning that escalating poverty and inequality could further erode hope.
People need to see tangible improvements in their situations and believe in potential upward mobility, yet statistics provide little reassurance of such advancements. Ensieh Jalalvand, another sociologist at the seminar, also pointed to the increasing trend of protests, dwindling electoral participation, and widespread emigration as indicators of societal discontent. “It’s crucial for people to feel heard, to believe their concerns can lead to meaningful change,” she stated, advocating for genuine channels of communication between citizens and policymakers.
Assessing Social Capital Through Official Data
The Interior Ministry’s National Social Capital Report published in June 2025 illustrates a stark decline in social capital, dropping from 43.5% in 2015 to just 36.6% in 2025. The report reveals that around 75% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with perceived societal injustice, with many citing experiences of discrimination and inequality in opportunity distribution. Between early 2025 and the advent of the 12-day war, 60% of those surveyed felt hopeless about future conditions improving, while a similar percentage indicated they were unable to endure further economic burdens.
These distressing findings have led to mass emigration of skilled workers and capital flight, as people seek more stable environments. The report also called attention to pervasive dissatisfaction with political leadership, with 70% asserting that meaningful changes in overarching policies are necessary for genuine improvement. Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Bat’haei characterized these findings as a critical warning, indicating that national trust in governance is more severely compromised than at regional or local levels.
For Sara, these insights resonate deeply. The sense of unpredictability that once seemed a mere abstract concept has become a daily source of anxiety. No longer able to envision an improved future, she grapples with a bleak reality that challenges her aspirations and dreams.