An Iranian citizen from the Sistan and Baluchestan province, one of the country's most economically challenged regions, has taken to social media to slam President Joe Biden’s deal with Iran.
In the video message, he criticizes the release of millions of dollars to the regime and points to dire living conditions within the country. All this, while tens of billions of dollars annually are invested in the country's proxies around the region.
The Iranian, who keeps his identity hidden, showcases his daily meal, a simple mixture of tomatoes and cucumbers, to underscore the stark realities of poverty in his homeland. He highlights the pervasiveness of poverty and corruption in Iran, drawing parallels between the situation in his region and the struggles faced by the people of Gaza.
"Mr. Biden, you released the money, but the money does not reach the poor people, and it goes to a place where every minute someone is killed, and a child is orphaned," he remarks, referencing the ongoing conflict between Iran-backed Hamas, and Israel.
He goes on to implore President Biden to extend assistance to the impoverished residents of Baluchestan, who, according to him, must undertake arduous journeys covering hundreds of kilometers to access even basic healthcare, incurring significant expenses in the process.
The release of $6 billion in Iranian oil revenues by the Biden administration last month as part of a deal to secure the freedom of five American hostages has been met with increasing controversy. The deal faced early objections in Washington, but the situation took a different turn following the Hamas-Israel conflict, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.
In the aftermath of the attack, Republican lawmakers intensified their efforts to hold the administration accountable for the move urging Biden to refreeze the money.
Currently the official annual inflation rate is around 50 percent, the highest for more than 30 years with basics such as rent and food, now unaffordable to millions of Iranians thrust below the poverty line.
