Iranians queue for petrol after US announces new sanctions

Long queues formed at Tehran petrol stations on Tuesday following the US announcement of fresh sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran. Washington's sanctions come six months into a war on Iran that has reached a stalemate, with peace talks stalled and traffic blocked in the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined plans to "asphyxiate" Iran's economy, intending to cut off every economic lifeline that sustains the regime.

Iranian leaders have shrugged off the tough talk, but some residents in Tehran feared the impact. The sanctions would affect people of various financial backgrounds, according to realtor Mehdi Yazdian. Iran has faced high inflation before the war, which fueled anti-government protests in January. Authorities responded with a crackdown that rights groups claimed resulted in thousands of deaths.

The government attributed the violence to US and Israeli orchestrated "terrorist acts." English teacher Kia Farahani expressed concern about potential future unrest due to the economic pressure. Iran has executed individuals related to the winter protests, drawing criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused the country of killing protesters at unprecedented levels.

Another defeat for Iran was reported as lines of cars snaked out of petrol stations after the Iranian president's chief of staff announced that petrol quotas would be reviewed.