Iranian Cleric Condemns Apartment Construction Amid Economic Concerns

An Iranian cleric says apartment construction is condemned in religious texts, asserting Islam's opposition to people living in such units compared with private houses.

Mohammad Javad Fazel Lankrani, a member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, set forth numerous drawbacks of apartment living, suggesting that it goes against Islamic principles.

“Perhaps the damage caused by apartment living is several times that of living in houses,” he added.

Nevertheless, he omitted to address the misguided policies implemented by the clerical regime, which have contributed to widespread poverty compelling families to reside in small apartments due to their inability to afford larger homes.

Lankrani's remarks coincide with growing concerns in Iran's real estate market. Experts anticipate a significant surge in housing prices and rents fueled by factors such as the further depreciation of Iran's rial.

As the national currency continues to lose value and inflation drives rents higher, sellers are hesitant to lower prices, exacerbating the pressure on millions of Iranians. Many local companies in the housing sector are already grappling with rising costs, inflation, and reduced demand.

The Iranian rial has depreciated by more than 20 percent since January, prompting individuals to seek refuge in foreign currencies to safeguard their investments.

Recent figures released by the Statistics Center of Iran indicated an annual inflation rate of nearly 40 percent in the housing market over the past year. The cost of apartments in major cities like Tehran now exceeds 700 million rials (over $1150) per square meter, far surpassing the average monthly earnings of civil servants and ordinary workers.