Iran is suffering yet surviving under Trump’s economic warfare

Iran is suffering yet surviving under Trump’s economic warfare - The Washington Post

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Iran is suffering yet surviving under Trump’s economic warfare

As Iranians face shortages, President Donald Trump’s blockade, more so than new sanctions, is eroding the country’s economy, analysts say. But Tehran appears to remain uncowed.

September 21, 2026 at 5:00 a.m. EDT

Today at 5:00 a.m. EDT

8 min

*Shoppers in the Grand Bazaar in Tehran on Aug. 24. (-/AFP/Getty Images)*

By

Susannah George

and

Asal Abasian

Iran is suffering under increasing economic pressure two months into a renewed U.S. naval blockade of its ports that has choked off oil exports, deprived Tehran billions of dollars in critical state revenue and is threatening the country with a severe shortage of the foreign currency it needs to pay for remaining imports.

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