Population
Iran’s Demographic Gamble: A State Program Losing Air
Despite multi-billion-toman plans to promote childbearing, marriage and fertility continue to plunge — the Supreme Leader’s demographic ambitions may be slipping out of reach.
Latest Articles
Population
Where in Iran Are Multiple Births Most Common?
Just 2% of Iranian births involve twins or more, but stark provincial differences point to deeper demographic, health, and cultural divides.
Energy
Iran’s Energy Black Hole: 40% of Gas and Power Lost Before Use
IOD’s analysis reveals that nearly half of Iran’s energy is wasted before reaching users—costing billions and exposing deep structural failures.
Energy
Inside Iran’s $2.4 Billion Arbitration Defeat: What the UK Court Ruling Reveals about the Hidden Costs of Energy Disputes
London’s Court of Appeal has upheld enforcement of a $2.4bn gas arbitration against NIOC, paving the way for asset seizures in Iran’s costliest commercial defeat.
Education
Iran’s Learning Crisis: Poverty, Dropout, and Class Divide in Education
Iran’s education crisis has become nationwide. Structural inequality is deepening across all provinces—not just in the poorest corners, IOD’s analysis of the latest available data reveals.
Budget and Government Spending
The $182m Series That Still Has No Start Date
IOD has found that the combined state allocation for Moses and its sister series Salman the Persian has reached 9.1tn tomans ($182m) over the last four years. From 700bn tomans in 2022 to 4tn in 2025, the budget has ballooned despite no completed production.
Economic Sector
Iran Tops Middle East in Groundwater Depletion, Ranks Fifth Globally
IOD’s analysis of UN data reveals Iran as the Middle East’s leading extractor of groundwater, and fifth globally after India, China, the US, and Pakistan. Overuse has placed hundreds of aquifers in critical condition, with land subsidence threatening major cities and “Day Zero” looming in Tehran.
Budget and Government Spending
Iran boosts funding for state-backed pilgrimages after suppressing falsified data
IOD’s analysis finds the regime has increased funding for the Rahian-e-Nour war pilgrimages to 210bn toman ($2m) in 2025, even after fabricating participation figures and halting all public reporting.
Banking and Finance
Iran’s Crypto Mining Share May Reach 15% Amid Power Surges and Capital Flight
IOD’s analysis finds Iran’s crypto mining footprint could account for up to 15% of global activity—driven by subsidised electricity and large-scale operations. A 2,400 MW power drop during a blackout revealed the hidden scale of the sector.
Economic Sector
Iran’s Mining Wealth Fails to Lift Provincial Incomes
IOD’s analysis finds no correlation between Iran’s provincial mining resources and local economic wellbeing. Provinces rich in mines often remain poor, while low-resource areas post stronger welfare indicators.
Economic Sector
Iran’s Grain Puzzle: Output Surges, Imports Soar
IOD’s analysis finds a 60% increase in Iran’s reported grain production since 2011 has coincided with a fourfold jump in grain imports—now exceeding $8bn annually. Official data clashes with international estimates, raising fresh doubts over Tehran’s agricultural self-sufficiency claims.
Economic Sector
Iran’s Waste Problem Isn’t the Public
IOD’s analysis finds that most food and energy waste in Iran stems from systemic inefficiencies, not consumer behavior. Official narratives blaming citizens misrepresent both domestic and global data.