Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on citizens to ‘accept’ the economic consequences of intensified international sanctions, following the United States’ recent hardening of its stance toward Tehran. Speaking in a televised interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Pezeshkian dismissed claims that sanctions have no real effect. ‘Some say sanctions have no impact at all. To such people, I have nothing to say,’ he stated.
‘We Are in a Wartime Situation’
Describing Iran’s current reality as one of ‘wartime conditions,’ Pezeshkian emphasized that the public must adapt to the constraints imposed by external pressure. Widely seen as a relative moderate within Iran’s political establishment, he acknowledged last week that the country faces ‘serious economic difficulties’—even as Iranian officials continue to insist that U.S. financial pressure will achieve ‘nothing.’
New U.S. Sanctions Target Iran’s Trade Partners
On Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled a new package of so-called ‘secondary sanctions’ aimed not directly at Iran, but at foreign companies and governments doing business with it. According to Washington, the measures are designed to trigger economic suffocation in Tehran amid an escalating regional crisis. The conflict, which began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has since reached a stalemate—but its economic reverberations are deepening.
Trade Plummets, Fuel Prices Set to Rise
Pezeshkian revealed that Iran’s exports and imports have dropped by 25% to 30%. He also confirmed that gasoline prices will inevitably increase—by one means or another. For years, Iran, a major oil producer, has heavily subsidized fuel through a tiered rationing system based on consumption levels. As a result, any adjustment to fuel pricing remains politically sensitive and potentially volatile.
Naval Blockade Compounds Fuel Shortages
Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaebanah added on Wednesday that a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports—imposed in retaliation for Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz—has severely hampered the country’s ability to import sufficient gasoline to offset its own ‘inadequate’ domestic production.
China Vows to Defend Its Ties with Iran
Among the countries targeted by the new U.S. sanctions—and one of Iran’s most important economic partners—is China. Beijing reaffirmed its commitment to defending its interests and cooperation with Tehran ‘decisively.’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this sentiment yesterday, stating: ‘It is not impossible to get diplomacy back on track. That depends on whether the United States understands a simple fact: pressure does not work.’