Pezeshkian: Iran facing ‘full-scale economic war’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country is facing a “full-scale economic war” despite not being engaged in a military conflict.
“Today, the country is in a situation where, although it is not involved in a military war, it is facing extensive economic pressure. Waterways and air routes have been restricted, while obstacles are also being created along land routes,” Pezeshkian said during a virtual meeting with authorities in the northern province of Gilan on Thursday.
Referring to rising government expenditure amid wartime conditions and external pressure, the president said the efforts and resilience of government managers and officials had enabled the country to withstand mounting challenges and manage a substantial part of its difficulties.
Pezeshkian also stressed the need to preserve national unity and cohesion, warning that Iran’s adversaries are seeking to sow discord within the country.
“The enemy is seeking to create divisions within the country, and we must strengthen solidarity and cohesion to prevent internal differences from becoming a tool for the enemy to achieve its objectives,” he said. Since the joint aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran in February, Washington has intensified its economic pressure on Iran to force authorities in Tehran to accept its demands to end the aggression.
The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iran since April and following the failure of an agreement reached between the two countries, which was mediated by Pakistan. The blockade has stopped Iran’s oil exports, with only about 200,000 to 300,000 barrels a day of Iranian oil still reaching the market via Iraq, according to Bloomberg. The US has also imposed new sanctions on the country. Washington has announced it would put sanctions on any global companies doing business with Iranian airlines.
US sanctions on Iranian airlines came into force on September 23. The measures have not grounded Iranian aviation altogether.
The US has also forced Iran’s neighbors to close their land routes with Iran, through which Iran imports and exports goods.