Economic Pressure Won’t Bring Surrender

Let's get some analysis now from Iranian journalist and senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, Negar Motazavi.

Always good to have you on the program.

So let's just begin by taking a look at these official figures from Iran, showing that the economy is in deep recession as the effects of the war with the U.S. and Israel take hold.

What does that mean for the people in Iran?

Thank you for having me.

Well, the economy has been in a very bad shape.

Inflation is high and it's growing.

And when we speak to people on the ground, it's something that's felt in daily life.

But there's also an understanding that this is wartime.

So the expectations for the economy are not very high.

But nevertheless, it's average Iranians who are paying the price.

But this hasn't translated into policy change in Tehran.

I mean, Iran has been under economic pressure from severe U.S. sanctions for years and years, and it's never led to any form of policy change.

But nevertheless, I mean, the economic situation with the blockade, with the new pressure from sanctions from the US is gradually increasing, and the average Iranian on the ground is really feeling the impact of that in everyday life, in their necessities.

There is now reports of shortage of some medicine, so it's

pretty dire.

You say that there is somewhat of an understanding that this is a wartime economy with economic pain.

But is there a point at which that economic pain perhaps does become too much and does see the regime back at the negotiating table, even if they have managed to withstand sanctions, well, since the beginning of the Islamic Republic?