To cover debts: The street in Tehran that became 'Kidney Street' - citizens even offer testicles

The economic crisis in Iran is driving citizens to offer their organs for sale to cover debts. Farhang Hosseini Street in Tehran, known as 'Kidney Street', has become a meeting point between sellers and buyers. A kidney can earn 30-40 billion rials. One seller even offered a package deal including a kidney, liver tissue, and a testicle.

The economic crisis in Iran is driving citizens to offer their organs for sale to cover debts. Farhang Hosseini Street in Tehran, known as 'Kidney Street', has become a meeting point between sellers and potential buyers. According to a report by Iran International, citing the Iranian news agency ILNA, a citizen can earn between 30 and 40 billion rials (about £11,850 to £15,800) for a kidney. Those with rare blood types can demand up to 50 billion rials. One seller, a 30-year-old courier, rejected an offer of 15 billion rials in hopes of getting double that amount. Another person, a 58-year-old self-employed man, offered an organ at a 30 percent discount, and a third seller offered a package deal including a kidney, liver tissue, and a testicle. The head of the Social Affairs Committee of the Iranian parliament, Ali Babaei Karami, admitted that about 50 million Iranians struggle to afford basic food and about 8 million live in absolute poverty. The minimum wage stands at 200-300 million rials per month, while the average monthly expenditure is estimated at least 1 billion rials. Human rights and opposition groups claim the regime turns a blind eye to the trade, which turns over millions while exploiting the vulnerable. The article notes that paid kidney trade is not universally defined as illegal in Iran.