Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon and a major concern in public policy. This study aims to formulate the current messes in the implementation of poverty alleviation policies in Iran and identify the consequences of their persistence. A qualitative approach and thematic analysis were employed, with a focus on the formulation stage of messes within Russell Ackoff’s Idealized Design approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 participants with professional, managerial, expert, research, and field experience in poverty alleviation and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis. The Van Meter and Van Horn policy implementation model served as the primary model, while complementary concepts were used as sensitizing concepts. The findings revealed two overarching themes: fragmentation in the governance architecture and implementation of poverty alleviation, and disruption in the chain of poverty identification, support, and sustainable exit from poverty. An interpretive examination of the relationships and mutual reinforcement among themes led to the formulation of five vicious cycles: data deficiencies and targeting errors, institutional fragmentation and duplication, short-term support and dependency, the policy–implementation gap, and resource instability and short-term interventions. The persistence of these cycles is associated with the reproduction of poverty, inefficient resource allocation, unequal access, erosion of public trust, and reduced capacity for policy learning and reform. The findings highlight the need to strengthen the connections among multidimensional poverty assessment, data governance, institutional coordination, empowerment, outcome-oriented evaluation, and policy learning.