A report released on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by the Trade Union Commission of the Iranian Writers' Association, documents the experiences of several writers and translators, highlighting how the war has intensified existing economic and professional challenges in the country's literary sector.
According to the report, previously approved publishing permits for some authors and translators have been revoked, while scrutiny of new books and reprints has increased.
Two novels that had remained under review and subsequently suspended for several years before the war were formally declared unauthorised after the conflict began.
In another case, a poetry collection was granted permission for publication only after all nine pages were removed. Meanwhile, a publisher seeking to reprint a book nearly 30 years old was instructed to delete a sentence depicting an author holding his wife's hand.
The report said censorship extends beyond the removal of passages. Some publishers have begun rejecting manuscripts before submitting them to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, fearing official scrutiny. This has also encouraged self-censorship among writers.
The commission also highlighted a decline in print runs, with some books now being published in editions of around 200 copies. In one case, a book initially planned for a print run of 200 copies was eventually published in just 100.
Rising paper and printing costs, higher book prices and declining public purchasing power were among the main economic concerns reported by writers and publishers.
One respondent said the price of a book had doubled from 800,000 to 1.6 million tomans in just one week.
A translator reported that publication of their translated work had been delayed for a year, while they received slightly more than four million tomans for nearly two months of work. The report also noted that an independent publishing house had effectively remained closed since May last year because of financial difficulties.
Some publishers have also started shifting production expenses, including editing fees, onto authors. Writers and translators raised concerns over the lack of transparency in book sales, publishing figures and royalty payments.
The commission said some books had been distributed on digital platforms without the authors' knowledge, while publishers often failed to provide clear information about sales figures and revenues.
The war has further disrupted literary activities, damaging the homes or workplaces of some writers, interrupting internet access, halting literary workshops and affecting research and writing.
The Iranian Writers' Association's Trade Union Commission has called for an end to censorship, transparent agreements between authors and publishers, accurate sales records and fair royalty payments and compensation for translation work.
It also urged authorities to support independent publishing houses and protect the professional and economic rights of writers and translators.
