Iranians experience increasing hardships as US threatens unprecedented economic warfare

Iranians said they are experiencing increasing hardships amid a growing economic crisis, which may further deteriorate as U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened "unprecedented" economic warfare and isolation against Iran.

Calling it "an Economic D-Day," Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the move will be "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country."

He warned that any countries providing a "lifeline" to Iran will face tremendous economic consequences, urging allies to stand with the United States to "isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent likewise said on Thursday that Washington will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran, describing the strategy as a "one-two punch" that combines the existing blockade with sweeping new sanctions.

Currently, Iran's economic crisis has entered a dangerous new phase, with official data showing annual inflation hitting 66 percent.

Economists warn that the country has entered what they describe as a "period of economic misery," forcing millions of households to rethink how they buy even necessities.

"Sanctions have been highly effective. People's livelihoods are very difficult, and they are suffering. We do not know what to do," said Saeed, a resident in the capital Tehran.

Ali, another resident, said Iranians are struggling under uncontrollable rising prices and the sanctions have caused economic hardships in the country, making people's life more and more difficult.

"Sanctions naturally have an impact. I am an employee, and I try to manage my life based on my income, but it is no longer enough. Prices are rising uncontrollably, and it is truly difficult. These sanctions reduce the country's revenues, including from oil and gas exports, and this has a harsh impact, making life very difficult for society," he said.

Iranians experience increasing hardships as US threatens unprecedented economic warfare

The Trump administration has initiated procedures to pay 725 million U.S. dollars toward U.S. arrears owed to the United Nations, according to a State Department notification to Congress on Thursday.

The payment is expected to be completed before President Trump travels to New York next month to attend the UN General Assembly and deliver an address.

However, the 725 million U.S. dollars represents less than 20 percent of the total amount the United States owes.

In May, the United Nations said U.S. arrears exceeded 4 billion U.S. dollars. The U.S. side maintains that the actual total is lower than that figure.

Under the UN Charter, a member state may lose its voting rights in the General Assembly if its arrears equal or exceed the total assessments due for the preceding two years.

The United States is the largest contributor to the UN budget. The Trump administration had previously refused to pay some mandatory assessments for the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget, cut voluntary funding to multiple UN agencies, and withdrawn from several international organizations.

US to pay 725 million dollars in overdue UN arrears