Iranians queue for petrol after US announces new sanctions

Long queues formed at Tehran petrol stations after the US announced fresh sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran, according to wire material. Washington has imposed economic levers in the ongoing war on Iran, which has hit a stalemate, with peace talks stalled and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz blocked. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained the objective of the economic asphyxiation, stating that the goal is to sever every economic lifeline sustaining the regime.

While Iran's leaders shrugged off the tough talk, many residents feared they would feel the pinch. Some residents, like realtor Mehdi Yazdian, acknowledged that the sanctions were having an effect, but Iranians are resilient. Iran has been dealing with high inflation before the war, leading to anti-government protests in January, which authorities suppressed with violence.

The government blames these acts on US and Israel, attributing the violence to terrorist acts orchestrated by those two entities. Iranian experts predict more economic pressure and potential protests due to the sanctions, while international responses, such as China's opposition to the measures, indicate the complexity of the situation.

Oil prices fell for the second day as traders assessed the risk of renewed strikes on Iran receding.