Tehran’s grand bazaar, typically bustling with activity and commerce, has been profoundly affected by nearly three weeks of ongoing conflict in Iran. The usually crowded corridors and vibrant marketplaces have seen a significant decline in foot traffic, with many shops remaining closed. This disruption comes at a critical time, just before the Persian New Year and the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holidays, periods that traditionally witness a surge in shopping and trading activities.
Ordinarily, these festive days would transform the bazaar into a hive of eager traders finalizing deals and families purchasing gifts in preparation for celebrations. However, despite some visitors browsing the stalls, the number of actual buyers has dropped noticeably. Nisrin, a 40-year-old shopper who preferred to use only her first name, expressed her frustration while searching for new jeans for her children. She questioned how ordinary people could afford to make purchases amid the economic hardships.
Like many Iranians, Nisrin reminisced about the days before Nowruz when her mother would fill multiple shopping bags with clothes and presents for her five children. Such spending has now become a distant memory, even for middle-class families like hers. Earning roughly $130 per month from her job at a dental clinic, Nisrin had managed to cover basic necessities and occasionally buy new clothes despite the country’s persistent economic challenges, including rampant inflation. But the outbreak of war has further strained these fragile financial conditions.
The conflict, marked by intense Israeli and U.S. airstrikes that have tragically claimed the life of Iran’s supreme leader and other senior officials, has cast a shadow over the nation’s economy. Since the hostilities began on February 28, the government has refrained from releasing updated economic data. Nevertheless, traders and shoppers alike in the bazaar report that the war has exacerbated inflation, pushing prices well beyond the already high 36% rate recorded throughout much of 2025.
Stretching across the heart of Tehran, the grand bazaar functions as a microcosm of the city itself. It houses a vast array of wholesale and retail outlets, sheltered beneath towering brick vaults or corrugated iron roofs, with shafts of sunlight piercing the dim interiors. The bazaar is divided into specialized sections dedicated to clothing, food, spices, carpets, electronics, ironmongery, and numerous other goods. Historically, it has been a vital economic engine for Tehran and a significant political force within the country.
However, the ongoing war has not only dampened commercial activity but has also caused physical damage to parts of the bazaar. Some buildings have suffered from airstrike impacts, leading to hazardous conditions. A shopkeeper warned passersby of danger near a collapsed ceiling section, highlighting the risks faced by those operating in the area. Pouria Rahbar-Yektashenaei, who has run a clothing store for nearly 14 years, shared how his business was only beginning to recover from a prolonged economic downturn before the conflict erupted.
He described the situation as devastating, noting that he had to close his shop for two weeks due to fears that the bazaar might be targeted in further strikes. His recent reopening has been met with a stark reality: many neighboring shops remain shuttered, and the usual crowds have thinned considerably. This decline underscores the broader economic and social toll the war has inflicted on Tehran’s commercial heart.
