Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has admitted that US sanctions are putting significant pressure on Iran’s economy.
Speaking in a state television interview, he dismissed claims that sanctions have no effect, saying Iran is operating under conditions comparable to wartime and must adapt accordingly.
Pezeshkian said the country’s import and export activity had declined by between 25% and 35% in recent months, which he attributed to a US naval blockade affecting Iranian ports.
His remarks came shortly after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced measures aimed at intensifying economic pressure on Iran. Bessent described the strategy as seeking the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran and warned that countries continuing to do business with Tehran could also face consequences.
The Iranian president also called for higher fuel prices, arguing that reduced trade had created a need to adjust petrol pricing. He proposed increasing the price of fuel under the third-tier quota from 5,000 tomans to 10,000 tomans.
