The Iranian government pledged on Saturday to stand firm against US sanctions and what it called US-Israeli “conspiracies,” after the Islamic Republic’s leaders acknowledged its economy was hurting.
In a statement carried by state media, the Iranian government said diplomacy and defense were “complementary, coordinated and inseparable” tools for protecting the country’s national interests, security and territorial integrity.
The government said it would pursue both tracks simultaneously and focus on curbing inflation, creating jobs, supporting domestic production and gradually reducing dependence on the US dollar.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had on Monday laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, warning of dire consequences for countries that do not join the American campaign.
The new measures build on a sanctions regime by the US and allies that has been in place since 2018, when US President Donald Trump withdrew from an international deal struck with Tehran on its nuclear program.
