As an Iranian citizen, I have faced some challenges using the domestic banking system. The US sanctions have made international transactions very difficult. A few months ago, I needed to send some money abroad to pay for an online course. However, due to the sanctions, none of the major banks would process the transfer. I asked around and was referred to an unofficial money exchange office in a small alley near my home.
When I went there, the place seemed quite run down and sketchy. The exchange rate they offered was much worse than the official rate. But I was running out of options. I provided the cash and sent them the details of where to transfer the funds. They assured me it would be done within a few days.
A week went by with no update. When I went back, they said there was a delay but it would be processed soon. Another week passed before they finally admitted they were unable to complete the transfer due to restrictions on their accounts. I had lost all my money with no recourse. It was a frustrating and expensive lesson to be more careful about using unofficial money changers, especially with large amounts. In the future, I will exhaust all official banking options first before resorting to such exchanges, despite the higher fees and slower process. The sanctions have certainly made ordinary financial tasks much more difficult and risky for Iranian citizens.