Economic crisis means fewer Iranians are getting married

Shahrzadnews: The economic crisis that has engulfed Iran in recent months has led to a dramatic fall in the number of young people embarking on marriage. They are with more concerned saving money than tying the knot.

Though the government is trying to stabilise it, the national currency has gone into free fall against the US dollar. Prices of home appliances and accommodation have hit new heights in the major Iranian cities, and continue to rise. Sociologist Ardeshir Kiani told the Mehr news agency: “The recent rise in the price of basic foodstuffs and other commodities has had a direct effect on the number of people getting married. Also gold coins for dowries are very expensive, so young people are forced to postpone wedding plans, only getting married when they are older. Another reason that marriages are less common is that young people have little chance to get acquainted with potential partners.”

Maryam Nejabati, who is an advisor to the Iranian Youth Ministry, told the new agency: “Marriage is currently a problem for young people. They would rather not take on the responsibility of marrying and starting a family until they are confident that their finances are sound.”

The news agency added that although most young Iranians “think constantly of getting married,” they are discouraged when they compare prices with what they have in their pockets.

Meanwhile Dr. Ebrahim Fayaz, a governor of Tehran University, says girls are rejecting the concept – supported by various conservative clerics as a way of satisfying the sexual needs of young people – of ‘temporary’ marriage. “Young people’s difficulties will never be solved by temporary marriage.