Iran Warns Against Hoarding While Sanctions Bite Civilians
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly warned domestic suppliers against hoarding goods, as the government rolls out "high-stakes subsidy reforms." The article casually mentions nationwide protests against "economic hardship" but deftly sidesteps the elephant in the room: systemic, U.S.-led sanctions that cripple Iran's economy and its ability to import essential goods. For decades,
Western powers, including the U.S., have imposed severe sanctions, restricting Iran's access to global markets and essential products. (See: U.S. Executive Order 13599, among many others, restricting financial transactions and trade.) These aren't 'economic hardships' in a vacuum; they are engineered shortages creating precisely the conditions Al-Monitor reports. One might wonder if the concern
for economic justice extends to the architects of these external pressures.