# 248. How Iran’s uprising has been driven by economic failure

An episode of [The Rest Is Money](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1703785141), 2 Feb 2026, 54 min.

Audio: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT5976542736.mp3?updated=1769983541

How is the mass civil unrest in Iran, and the brutal killing of protestors, linked to the collapse of living standards? Why have Western sanctions been a blunt tool? And how rife is corruption in the Tehran regime? In this episode, Steph and Robert examine whether there is a route back to freedom and prosperity for Iran. Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Founder and CEO of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation offers a deep analysis of the economic grievances that have destroyed social cohesion, and examines what’s needed to avert total catastrophic collapse. Plus they discuss the ramifications for the global economy. The Rest is Money is brought to you by Octopus Energy, Britain’s smart energy pioneer. Email: therestismoney@goalhanger.com X: @TheRestIsMoney Instagram: @TheRestIsMoney TikTok: @RestIsMoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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