Iranian banks have begun distributing new one-million Toman banknotes nationwide to ensure citizens' access to cash under "special conditions" following unprecedented military and economic disruptions.
On March 15, 2026, Iranian banking authorities initiated the nationwide distribution of a newly issued one-million Toman banknote. The sudden rollout of the massive denomination was announced across Iranian media networks, with the breaking-news channel خبرفوری ࡆ اخبارفوری مذاکره ࡆ جنگ فوری abruptly declaring that the new bill had "entered the market!"
According to regional news outlet آخرین خبر لرستان, the distribution is specifically aimed at "completing the banknote supply chain under special conditions." The outlet reported that the high-value currency is currently being dispensed through selected bank branches nationwide. A similar local dispatch from آخرین خبر خوزستان confirmed that the notes became available in local banks starting Sunday morning.
The war-focused domestic channel اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا فوری explicitly tied the currency release to the country's ongoing state of emergency. The channel noted that this action is intended "to ensure citizens' access to cash under special conditions." Citizens seeking the high-denomination cash must apply at designated branches and are restricted to withdrawing the currency "according to designated ceilings."
The introduction of the new banknote was also amplified by حامیان پزشکیان, a channel aligned with the political faction of the Iranian presidency, which circulated the news to its supporters. The introduction of this ultra-high denomination currency coincides with extreme national instability following the unprecedented US and Israeli airstrikes earlier this month, the sudden transition of power to new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, and severe disruptions to the nation's energy infrastructure and broader economy.
The sources use the phrase "special conditions" (شرایط خاص) repeatedly, acting as a euphemism for the wartime crisis and the resulting severe economic disruptions to the banking system. Tone across channels is uniform, treating the introduction of the large-denomination banknote as a necessary logistical step rather than openly acknowledging hyperinflation or panic-driven bank runs.