Iranians are bracing for the economic fallout of new U.S. sanctions announced this week, as long queues form outside fuel stations across the country — particularly in Tehran. The Biden administration has pledged to intensify financial pressure on Iran, vowing to ‘strangle’ its economy through a fresh wave of so-called secondary sanctions targeting foreign entities doing business with Tehran.
China Vows Strong Defense of Its Interests
China, Iran’s largest strategic and economic partner, responded swiftly — warning it would ‘firmly defend’ its interests following Washington’s announcement. The U.S. also threatened to isolate any countries continuing to support Iran, raising tensions in global trade corridors.
‘Maximum pressure measures within an economic war do not solve problems — they only escalate tensions, trigger spillover effects, destabilize the global economic and financial order, and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of other nations,’ said Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He added: ‘China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its rights and interests.’
New U.S. Sanctions Target Third-Party Entities
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the new sanctions package on Monday, August 25, 2026 — though the date appears to be a typographical error in the original text, likely referencing August 2024 or 2025. These measures do not directly target Iran — which has faced decades of international sanctions — but instead aim at third-party actors engaged with Tehran in sectors including gold, technology, digital assets, aviation, and maritime transport.
However, U.S. officials did not specify when the sanctions would enter into force or name which countries might fall under their scope — deepening uncertainty among global trading partners.
Citizens Rush to Fill Up Amid Rising Anxiety
On Tuesday, August 26, drivers flooded gas stations in Tehran — many arriving with cars and motorcycles — fearing fuel shortages and price hikes. ‘Of course, sanctions affect people’s daily lives — citizens suffer, whether they’re financially comfortable or struggling,’ said Mehdi Yazdian, a 55-year-old real estate agent interviewed by AFP in northern Tehran.
‘Our people are strong. These sanctions have lasted for 47 years,’ he added, referring to the period since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Kia Farahani, a 45-year-old English teacher, echoed the sentiment: ‘We Iranians are not afraid of war — but I believe this one will be mainly economic, placing enormous pressure on the population. There may well be renewed protests.’
A protest movement that began in late December over soaring living costs quickly evolved into large-scale anti-government demonstrations, peaking on January 8–9. Those rallies reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths — drawing sharp criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who called for an immediate halt to protester executions and described the situation as a ‘humanitarian crisis of massive proportions.’
Executions linked to the protest movement have reportedly increased in Iran since the onset of regional hostilities — widely understood to refer to escalating tensions following U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iranian targets, beginning around February 28.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities remain publicly defiant, reiterating their refusal to yield to external pressure.