Iran Adopts New Plan to Counter US Sanctions
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reveals a new economic arrangement to protect the country against intensifying US sanctions and financial pressure.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that Tehran has implemented a "new arrangement" designed to navigate the increasingly difficult economic landscape caused by intensifying United States sanctions. Speaking via a post on X, the President stated that this strategic shift is necessary to manage the "special conditions" currently facing the Islamic Republic.
A Battle for Economic Lifelines
Pezeshkian accused international adversaries, specifically the United States, of attempting to sever the nation's vital economic arteries. He argued that these aggressive financial measures are intended to exert direct pressure on the Iranian people by cutting off essential commercial and financial networks.
Despite the mounting economic warfare, the President maintained a defiant stance. He credited the government's proactive measures and the continued support of the Iranian public for preventing the "enemy" from achieving its primary objectives. "Economic pressure has intensified, but... we have not allowed the enemy's objectives in the economic war to be realised," Pezeshkian noted.
The US 'Operation Economic Outcast'
The President's comments arrive in the wake of a massive US-led campaign known as "Operation Economic Outcast." Launched by the US Department of the Treasury in August, this initiative is described as an unprecedented, whole-of-government effort to dismantle the financial networks that sustain the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Key aspects of the US strategy include:
- Global Enforcement: US Treasury officials have been deployed worldwide to urge other governments to take action against Iranian-linked networks.
- Mapping Illicit Channels: The Treasury Department claims to have mapped the specific facilitators and financial channels used by Iran to smuggle oil and evade existing sanctions.
- Targeting Revenue Streams: The campaign aims to close every available financial resource that the US identifies as supporting the Iranian state.
Pressure Mounts on Aviation and Technology
The economic crackdown has not been limited to oil and banking. Washington has recently expanded its sights to the Iranian aviation sector, issuing warnings to foreign companies and service providers. Any entity found supporting Iranian carriers could face secondary sanctions.
This follows recent sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines and international companies accused of assisting the nation's aviation industry. For years, the sector has struggled under restrictions that prevent the purchase of new aircraft and the acquisition of essential spare parts and maintenance services.
The broader US sanctions regime continues to target a wide array of sectors critical to the Iranian economy, including:
- Energy and Shipping
- Technology and Digital Assets
- Gold and Financial Services