Kidney for Sale in Niavaran: Man with Placard Stirs Outrage in TehranTehran – IRNA News Agency, November 2, 2025A 38-year-old man stood on Bahonar Street in Tehran’s upscale Niavaran district yesterday, holding a cardboard sign that read:
“Kidney for Sale – Blood Type O+ – Price Negotiable – Call: 0912xxx3456”
Kabul 24: He was reportedly pleading with passersby for a “serious buyer.”According to IRNA’s on-site reporter, the man, who identified himself only as “Ali M.,” claimed he was forced into the act due to 480 million tomans in debt, long-term unemployment, and inability to pay rent.
He insisted his kidney was healthy and carried medical test results—but refused to show them to journalists.Swift Police and Health Authority ResponseWithin hours of photos going viral on social media, officers from Tajrish Police Station (No. 101) arrived, confiscated the sign, and escorted the man away.
Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA) issued an immediate warning:“Direct sale or purchase of human organs is illegal and punishable by law. Citizens must avoid contacting unknown numbers.”
Dr. Kazem Zendehdel, head of the Iranian Society of Organ Donation, told IRNA: “The only legal pathway for kidney donation is through the Ministry of Health’s HEDIEH system and authorized hospitals. The approved compensation for donors in 2025 is 92 million tomans, plus separate medical coverage.”
Surge in Underground Organ AdsThis incident comes amid a sharp rise in desperation-driven organ sales. Over the past six months, more than 1,200 kidney sale ads have been tracked on platforms like Divar, Sheypoor, and Telegram channels.
Asking prices range from 250 million to 1.2 billion tomans, depending on blood type, age, and health status.
Economists link the trend to over 40% inflation, job market stagnation, and collapsing purchasing power. One bystander, speaking anonymously, told our reporter: “This guy’s just one of hundreds. I saw another one with a sign in Vanak yesterday.”
Latest UpdatesThe Niavaran man was taken to the local police station, issued a written warning, and released after pledging not to repeat the act.
The phone number on his sign has been blocked.The Ministry of Health announced it is reviewing a 50-million-toman emergency aid package for registered donors in financial distress—but the plan remains unapproved
