Associated Press Field Report: Candidates Promise to Revive the Devastated Economy, People Have Turned to 'Hamster Combat'

The Associated Press reported from Iran that the popularity of 'Hamster Combat' reflects the bitter reality that the Islamic Republic is facing a devastated economy due to Western sanctions, severe inflation, and a crisis of employment as it approaches the replacement of Ibrahim Raisi. Even while government candidates for the presidency promise to revive the country's economy, Iranians who have been involved with 'Bitcoin' for years have now turned to Hamster Combat, without knowing who is behind it. Since the collapse of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers in 2015, those who could afford to have moved their assets out of Iran's besieged currency to purchase vehicles, precious metals, and other hard assets. The value of one dollar at that time was equivalent to 3,000 tomans. Today, the dollar is nearing 58,000 tomans, and many have realized that the value of their bank accounts, pension funds, and other assets has significantly decreased due to the collapse of the Iranian currency. Meanwhile, the price of fruits and vegetables has increased by 50% compared to last year, and the price of meat has risen by 70%. The cost of rides in shared taxis, which are common in the Iranian capital, has nearly doubled. Even commuting on Tehran's metro, which remains the cheapest option for urban travelers, has increased by about 30%. Mohammad Reza Tabrizi, who owns a clothing store in downtown Tehran, says, 'I had three visitors to my shop this morning, none of whom bought anything.' In underground passages and other areas of the city, street vendors sell almost anything they can get their hands on. The AP report adds that the existence of this disheartening economic situation has led to increased public interest in cryptocurrencies and mobile games that offer coins. The spread of smartphones across Iran, along with the relatively low cost of mobile services compared to other countries, makes access to apps like 'Hamster Combat' appealing. This application is accessible through the Telegram messenger, which remains popular in Iran despite officials' attempts to block access to it. Its operation resembles an incremental or 'clicker' game, where users repeatedly click on an object or complete repetitive tasks to earn points. In 'Hamster Combat,' users believe they might gain access to a cryptocurrency related to the game that has not yet been publicly traded. In an email, individuals identifying themselves as game developers declined to answer questions about their identity or business plans but insisted that 'no cryptocurrency is offered in the game.' The email stated, 'We educate our audience about crypto through game mechanics.' However, this game resembles another app that previously offered cryptocurrency to Iranians, and it seems that only the promise of free money can distract some Iranians from the dire economic situation. Iranian officials, from military leaders to clerics in Qom, have expressed concern about the spread of this game. Ukrainian officials, who have been engaged in a devastating war with Russia armed by the Islamic Republic since the Moscow invasion in 2022, have also warned that user data is stored in Russia and may put them at risk. Additionally, there is a broader risk of exposure to malware, as users in Iran often cannot legally purchase new software. Thus, they face the risk of being targeted by state-sponsored hackers due to their political views. Meanwhile, presidential candidates in their 'campaigns' use Instagram, X, and Telegram. These services had previously been banned by the Islamic Republic, especially after recent nationwide protests. Linking Hamster Combat to the selection of Raisi's successor by Momen Nasab and the reaction of Shaker Boury. Alireza Manafi: Games like Hamster Combat come with security threats and the possibility of financial loss. Hamster Combat is at the center of Telegram users' attention; government reactions reference 'the ruling of the authorities.'