Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday acknowledged the mounting economic and social pressures facing the country, saying Iran was dealing with “many problems” as Tehran confronts fresh US sanctions aimed at further isolating the regime.“I understand we have many problems in society right now. We are trying to prevent these as much as we can,” Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state television.His remarks came days after the United States vowed to seek the “collapse” of the Iranian regime through a new sanctions campaign, adding to pressure on an economy already grappling with inflation, unemployment and declining purchasing power.Pezeshkian said Iran was now facing what he described as a broad confrontation with the United States, saying that, in his words, “thanks to US President Donald Trump, Iran is in a full-scale economic, military and security war.”“He says he is imposing the most crushing and terrifying sanctions on Iran,” Pezeshkian said.The Iranian economy has faced repeated pressure from sanctions, while inflation and exchange-rate swings have reduced purchasing power. The government has also faced waves of protests in recent years, many of them linked to economic hardship.At the end of December last year, protests that initially focused on the rising cost of living grew into wider demonstrations against Iran’s leadership. Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths during the unrest and accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the violence.“We are striving with all our hearts to overcome inflation, livelihood problems, unemployment, and to secure the future of the people, so that they can live with dignity and pride,” Pezeshkian said on Sunday.Pezeshkian also defended a recent memorandum of understanding, describing it as the best available route for Iran to move beyond what he called a situation of “neither war nor peace”.In a speech published by state-run IRNA early on Sunday, Pezeshkian said members of Iran’s supreme national security council believed the memorandum represented the best possible agreement based on what he described as dignity, wisdom and the national interest.“There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.”The memorandum, signed by Trump in June, set a 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an agreement on its nuclear programme. That deadline expired last week, but Tehran and Washington remain divided over key issues.One of the major sticking points is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global shipping. Iran has shown no indication that it intends to back down in negotiations with its adversaries.Pezeshkian linked progress on the agreement to Iran’s economic prospects, arguing that the continuing uncertainty was making it difficult for the country to attract investment.“Capital and money are extremely sensitive to risk,” he said. “We have to remove this risk from the country.”Nearly six months into the war with the United States and Israel, Iran’s economy is under further strain from sanctions and a naval blockade that has made it difficult for Tehran to export oil, its most valuable product.
Pakistan army chief to visit Tehran
Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, is due to visit Tehran on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the ministry.Baghaei said the visit was “in continuation of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen peace and security in the region”.Pakistan has taken on a mediator role in negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the war, placing Munir’s visit within wider diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
