Forced business closures (pomb) in Mashhad surged dramatically during the last four months. Mohsen Sayyadi, head of inspection and supervision for Mashhad’s trade guilds, told the official IRNA news agency that mobile branches of the Government Discretionary Punishments Organization ordered the sealing of 104 commercial units during this period, compared to just five units during the same timeframe last year.
Official data confirms a roughly twentyfold increase in forced business shutdowns in Mashhad year-over-year. Sayyadi did not offer a specific breakdown of the violations leading to the 104 closures, though he noted that inspection teams arranged the return of 322.5 billion rials ($32.25 million Toman equivalent) to complainants.
This surge in closures comes as local businesses in Mashhad struggle with economic contraction and market disruptions following the recent military conflict. In June, Sayyadi reported the sealing of 60 commercial units on charges of price gouging following inspections of over 10,000 wholesale and retail establishments that month.
In recent years, commercial closures across Iran have frequently extended beyond purely financial or regulatory infractions. Authorities have routinely shut down cafes, restaurants, and retail shops over non-compliance with mandatory hijab laws. In May, local shopkeepers reported receiving explicit warnings from the Public Places Police (Amaken), threatening immediate closure if they served unveiled women.
