Iran’s cooperative movement emerged as a crucial support network when war disrupted daily life, communications and normal economic activity across the country, according to Alireza Banaeifar, Deputy of International Affairs at the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC), reports Ms Shivali Sarna, Head Communications at ICA AP.
In an interview for the ICA-AP Bridge-Builders campaign, Banaeifar said cooperatives across Iran’s 31 provinces quickly reorganised around immediate community needs. The ICC represents a movement with around 18 million members spanning agriculture, industry, housing and healthcare.
He recalled how cooperative managers regularly contacted one another simply to check on each other’s safety, rather than discussing business. This experience, he said, reinforced the idea that cooperatives are built not merely on economic activity but also on trust, solidarity and human relationships.
With communication networks unreliable, established relationships between cooperatives helped move essential goods to areas where they were most needed. Messages of support from cooperators in other countries also provided encouragement during the crisis.
Reflecting on peace, Banaeifar said it means more than the absence of war; it also involves dignity, trust and communities remaining connected despite differences. He stressed that genuine solidarity requires maintaining dialogue and relationships, particularly during times of crisis, when cooperation can prevent communities from becoming isolated.
