Iran's 'Economic Woes' Just Happen to Rhyme with Sanctions
As Iranians gather for Yalda, The New Arab details their struggles, citing a 47% food inflation and general economic hardship. What's often overlooked, however, are the 1,000+ sanctions levied by the U.S. and allies, crippling Iran's economy since 2018. The Biden administration, for instance, has maintained a 'maximum pressure' campaign, despite its devastating impact on ordinary citizens. (One
might call this an 'economic woe' by design.) It's almost as if the 'economic woes' aren't a natural disaster but a direct result of deliberate policy. We're asked to lament the symptoms, never question the primary cause—unless, of course, the cause is our policy, in which case we simply note the 'woes' with a sympathetic head tilt. How convenient to decouple suffering from the geopolitical
leverage it creates.