Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic is enduring the most severe blockade and economic hardships since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. During a televised address broadcasted by state television on Wednesday, Pezeshkian emphasized that the past forty-eight
years have never witnessed such intense blockades, wars, and hardships as those currently being experienced. He directly accused the United States of systematically tightening economic conditions to provoke public discontent and trigger domestic protests that serve malicious foreign agendas. These
statements come amid an intense context of military confrontations between Tehran and Washington, which erupted in late February through US and Israeli airstrikes resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In parallel, Washington imposed a strict maritime blockade
targeting Iranian ports in retaliation for Tehran closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, halting maritime traffic and diverting cargo vessels. Earlier in late December, various Iranian cities witnessed widespread demonstrations sparked by high living costs that evolved into broader anti-government
movements, with authorities holding Washington and Tel Aviv responsible for inciting unrest.
