Iran Says US Sanctions Have Peaked

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said pressure from the United States on his country has reached a critical and dangerous stage.

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Friday in India, where he is attending the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) summit.

He said the world was experiencing an unprecedentedly complex period and warned that economic pressure was worsening the situation. According to the Iranian president, his country has faced heavy sanctions for years, with the pressure intensifying in recent months following what he described as military aggression by the United States and Israel.

“Iran has been subjected to heavy sanctions in recent years; this pressure has reached a critical and dangerous stage in recent months following the military aggression by the United States and Israel,” he said.

The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, triggering a wider Middle East conflict.  Iran responded by restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments, contributing to a surge in energy prices.

Pezeshkian said pressure on a country’s trade, energy, infrastructure and financial system could have consequences beyond its borders.

“When a country is subjected to political and military pressure on its trade, energy, infrastructure and financial system, the repercussions extend beyond its borders,” Pezeshkian said.

The Iranian president is making his first official visit to India and is expected to hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Friday, according to Indian diplomatic sources.