Iran Faces "Most Difficult Period" Amid Economic Crisis, Official Admits

Iran's National Security Advisor, Mohsen Rezaei, stated that the country is experiencing "one of the most difficult periods in its history" due to the economic pressure exerted by the United States, according to a report in the New York Times. Rezaei made these remarks on Saturday during a high-level government meeting focused on stabilizing Iran's collapsing economy. The Iranian currency, the Rial, has plummeted since the US and Israel initiated actions against Iran in February, with the decline accelerating recently following intensified US sanctions and a naval blockade. This blockade has exacerbated a years-long cost of living crisis, which has previously led to widespread protests and significant government crackdowns. Researchers suggest the US naval blockade has severely limited Iran's oil exports, cutting off its primary revenue source and contributing to a fuel crisis. In a related development, the Minister of Oil, Mohsen Fakhnezhad, who had previously asserted Iran would continue oil exports despite US actions, resigned on Sunday. The head of the national oil company has been appointed as his interim replacement. Government and private sector employees, including nurses and teachers, have announced their resignations on social media, citing insufficient salaries to cover living expenses. Retired civil servants have also reported not receiving their full pensions. The state-run IRNA news agency reported on the government meeting, noting Rezaei's assessment of the period as one of the most difficult in the nation's history. President Pazeshkian acknowledged the worsening economic conditions and stated the government has adopted a "new stance to manage the special conditions," without elaborating further.