• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?

2

A Nobel economist challenged Elon Musk to donate his entire $1T fortune by 2036. Musk's reply: 'I am actually going to do something along these lines'

3

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'

1

Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?

2

A Nobel economist challenged Elon Musk to donate his entire $1T fortune by 2036. Musk's reply: 'I am actually going to do something along these lines'

3

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Middle EastIran

Iran’s $7 monthly payments fail to ease spiraling economic unrest as Trump weighs military options against Tehran a week after Venezuela raid

Jason Ma
By
Jason Ma
Jason Ma
Weekend Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
Jason Ma
By
Jason Ma
Jason Ma
Weekend Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 11, 2026, 1:33 PM ET
Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on January 8, 2026.
Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on January 8, 2026. Kamran / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Protests in Iran appeared to intensify over the weekend, representing the biggest challenge to the regime’s rule in years, as President Donald Trump considers ways to respond.

Recommended Video

The mounting unrest comes as Tehran’s piecemeal efforts to address an economic crisis have done little to appease Iranians. Since protests began late last month, the government has offered words of sympathy, fired the central bank’s chief, and announced plans to provide most people with a monthly payment of about 1 million Iranian tomans—equivalent to $7.

Instead of spending $10 billion annually to subsidize imports, that money will instead go directly to 80 million Iranians in the form of credit to buy certain goods.

But the $7 monthly payments offer little relief to beleaguered consumers who are suffering from food inflation of 64%. It’s made worse by a 60% crash in the currency’s value since June, when Iran and Israel fought a 12-day war that was capped by the U.S. bombing of Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

Now, what began as a protest among merchants in Tehran’s bazaars has spread to students as well as Iran’s working and middle classes all across the country.

The security forces that keep the regime in power have not escaped hardship either. While human rights groups estimate hundreds have died from the government’s crackdown, Iranians say it’s not as severe as it could be.

“Security and law enforcement people are facing the same economic issues and high prices, themselves,” a protester in Tehran told the New York Times. “They are not fighting back wholeheartedly.”

Meanwhile, Trump has threatened Iran if the regime kills protesters and doubled down on that Friday, when he said the U.S. would “start shooting” if authorities fired on demonstrators.

With the violence worsening, Trump is looking at ways to follow through. Reports said that administration officials have already started discussing options to attack Iran again. On Sunday, sources told the Wall Street Journal that Trump will be briefed on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine also due to attend.

In addition to military strikes, other options include boosting antigovernment sources online, cyber attacks, and more economic sanctions, the report said.

But the Journal added that the Pentagon hasn’t sent any forces to the region and that the redeployment of the a USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to South America means there are none in the Middle East or Europe now.

The U.S. raid on Venezuela last week to capture Nicolas Maduro could weigh on military considerations for Iran as a large armada of Navy ships remain in the Caribbean and continue to enforce a “quarantine” on the country’s oil.

But Trump has shown his appetite for more foreign intervention hasn’t abated, even as the reality of a years-long commitment to rebuild Venezuela’s shattered oil industry sets it.

On Sunday, he sent another warning via social media to Cuba, which had benefited from economic assistance when Maduro was in power but is now feeling more strains.

“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” Trump said in a post. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Jason Ma
By Jason MaWeekend Editor

Jason Ma is the weekend editor at Fortune, where he covers markets, the economy, finance, and housing.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Middle East

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Middle East

Jeff Zucker is banking on the UAE to help build his new $8 billion entertainment empire
Middle EastMedia
Jeff Zucker is banking on the UAE to help build his new $8 billion entertainment empire
By Melissa HancockJuly 28, 2026
15 hours ago
‘The UAE has been a fantastic investor’: Jeff Zucker hails UAE partnership after Banijay merger
NewslettersFortune Gulf Brief
‘The UAE has been a fantastic investor’: Jeff Zucker hails UAE partnership after Banijay merger
By Melissa HancockJuly 28, 2026
16 hours ago
Record heat gives way to global winter gas shortage fears as Iran war rages on
EnergyIran
Record heat gives way to global winter gas shortage fears as Iran war rages on
By Jordan BlumJuly 28, 2026
18 hours ago
Mideast oil may soon have no way out amid ‘everything everywhere all at once’ wars, but the crisis in refined products is even worse
Middle EastOil
Mideast oil may soon have no way out amid ‘everything everywhere all at once’ wars, but the crisis in refined products is even worse
By Jason MaJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago
Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea could signal a new battlefront as U.S. seeks to form ‘a ring of economic and military pressure’
Middle EastIran
Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea could signal a new battlefront as U.S. seeks to form ‘a ring of economic and military pressure’
By Jason MaJuly 26, 2026
2 days ago
Trump pulls back after Iran crosses his red line as U.S. military breaks two-week streak of air strikes amid talks for potential Hormuz deal
Middle EastIran
Trump pulls back after Iran crosses his red line as U.S. military breaks two-week streak of air strikes amid talks for potential Hormuz deal
By Jason MaJuly 25, 2026
3 days ago

Most Popular

Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?
C-Suite
Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 27, 2026
1 day ago
A Nobel economist challenged Elon Musk to donate his entire $1T fortune by 2036. Musk's reply: 'I am actually going to do something along these lines'
Success
A Nobel economist challenged Elon Musk to donate his entire $1T fortune by 2036. Musk's reply: 'I am actually going to do something along these lines'
By Sydney LakeJuly 27, 2026
1 day ago
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Real Estate
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
4 days ago
LeBron James took a pay cut to maybe live in New York and commute to Philly by chopper, risking double taxation as NYC also tries to ban helicopters
Real Estate
LeBron James took a pay cut to maybe live in New York and commute to Philly by chopper, risking double taxation as NYC also tries to ban helicopters
By Catherina GioinoJuly 27, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of July 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 28, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 28, 2026
14 hours ago
New York City women are making up to $30,000 per month by renting out their closets to strangers
Retail
New York City women are making up to $30,000 per month by renting out their closets to strangers
By Sarah GlodekJuly 27, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.