Iran president admits country facing 'many problems'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian admitted on Sunday that his nation's citizens are grappling with numerous challenges, following the United States' latest round of sanctions aimed at further isolating the Iranian economy. Speaking on state television, Pezeshkian expressed his commitment to mitigating these issues as much as possible.

The remarks came in response to the US's assertion that their sanctions campaign, launched just weeks after the onset of their conflict with Iran, six months ago, would ultimately lead to the "collapse" of the Iranian regime. Pezeshkian characterized the situation as a "full-scale economic, military, and security war" initiated by US President Donald Trump. He claimed that his government has imposed the most stringent and intimidating sanctions on Iran.

The Iranian government has been grappling with various forms of mass protests in recent years, frequently triggered by economic hardships such as inflation and fluctuations in currency exchange rates, leading to a decline in purchasing power. In late December of the previous year, a protest movement that began due to rising living costs escalated into widespread demonstrations against those in power.

Authorities reported over 3,000 deaths during the unrest, accusing the United States and Israel of inciting the violence. Despite these challenges, Pezeshkian pledged to address issues such as inflation, unemployment, and livelihood problems, striving to secure a dignified and proud future for the Iranian people.