According to Iran’s Center for Statistics, the number of high-income unemployed in the country has risen by 159 percent to five million and 112 thousand. The group consists of people who have high income despite having no jobs.

The group mainly works as brokers or in real estate, and bank interest revenues are their main source of income.

According to the Center for Statistics, in 2015 this number was at one million and 968 thousand, but it has reached five million and 112 thousand in five years.

A significant number of this group put their money in non-governmental financial institutions founded by influential people tied to the regime, but many of them lost their money in these investments. The victims protested for a year in front of the parliament and banks until the government was forced to reimburse them for 36 trillion tomans. This amount is six trillion tomans more than the income the government hopes to make last year through increasing the gasoline price.

The high-interest revenue in Iranian banks which Rouhani’s government tries to decrease has resulted in many putting their money in banks instead of working, and others turning their money into land, gold, or foreign currency.

Dealing foreign currency is another source of income for many high-income unemployed, which means purchasing foreign currency at a lower price and selling it when the prices go up.

These activities, along with stagnation and low return in the production sector is considered a disease for Iran’s economy. These mediators do not pay taxes, not insure or hire anyone.