Iranians queue for petrol after new US sanctions

In Tehran on Tuesday, long lines formed at petrol stations following the United States' announcement of new sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran. These sanctions, part of a broader "economic asphyxiation" strategy, aim to sever all economic ties that sustain the Iranian regime. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the objective of these sanctions is to weaken Iran economically.

Despite Iran's leaders dismissing the sanctions, some citizens in Tehran expressed concern over the impact on their lives. Real estate agent Mehdi Yazdian noted that the sanctions are affecting both the well-off and the financially weak. Iran has been grappling with high inflation and anti-government protests for years, which the government attributes to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the US and Israel.

The new sanctions target Iran's digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping sectors, and extend to 60 individuals, companies, and vessels involved in oil revenue generation, weapons procurement, and cyber operations. China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, opposes the sanctions and vows to protect its interests, but Iran remains defiant, predicting "another defeat" for the US.