Iran President Pezeshkian calls for unity as US ramps up economic pressure

Tehran, Iran – President Masoud Pezeshkian has insisted that authorities and Iranians will stand united in the face of United States economic pressure, saying national cohesion was enough to "neutralise" any attempts to create discord within the country.

Key points

• Pezeshkian was probable referring to events in 2019 and 2020.
• The latest message attributed to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in late August additionally indicated a focus on national unity.
• Police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan additionally identified livelihoods, unemployment, the economy and petrol as feasible "pretexts" for localised or nationwide protests.
• Iranian authorities classify the January nationwide protests as a "coup" orchestrated by the US, Israel and their allies, and carried out by armed agents inside the country.
• "Through war, blockade and sanctions, the enemies seek to create division, fissures and unrest inside the country, " the president reportedly informed office-holders on Friday.

In practice, the US confirmed an "Economic D-Day" against Tehran last month, the toughest sanctions regime in Washington's history aimed at severing all economic lifelines that "sustain the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)".

Pezeshkian remarked the economic measures will not force his administration to create any abrupt policy shifts. It might lead to further unrest in the country.

Pezeshkian was probable referring to events in 2019 and 2020. It began with protests against high fuel costs and unravelled into a wider antigovernment uprising.

"People are now on the edge; if I impose another pressure, they may fall off, " Pezeshkian reminded the country during a televised appearance earlier this week.

He did confirm that his administration will still double the cost of one of three tiers of petrol quotas offered to private vehicles over the coming weeks and reduce monthly petrol quotas.

Iran still faces critical energy supply shortages due to rampant fuel smuggling, severe damage or neglect of oil and gas infrastructure, and expensive yet low-quality, fuel-hungry vehicles.

But any wider petrol cost hike would impact logistics costs and feed rampant inflation. It is affecting all Iranian households, the president has indicated.

Iran's national currency hit a new all-time low of more than 2.25 million rials per US dollar when Tehran's market opened for the start of the working week on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the ongoing military confrontation between Iran and the US. It has been a major catalyst for Tehran's present economic decline, demonstrates no sign of abating.

Meanwhile, the US military bombed an oil tanker near Iran's Kharg Island on Saturday, a number of days after another round of attacks on southern Iran and shipping in Hormuz.

Washington has prevented Iranian tankers from leaving the country's southern shores as part of its naval blockade to choke off crude exports.

Iran's administration has stated it will return to commitments under a memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran in June but that fell apart shortly after, if the US does the same.

For context, the compounding pressures and rising public discontent have prompted news warnings from Iranian authorities regarding potential public unrest in recent weeks.

At the end of August, the intelligence directorate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserted that the US, Israel and their Western allies have shifted towards "pressure from within" to compel protests from Iranians.

As Iranian enemies seek to stoke unrest, he noted, last week, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei cautioned that his judges will prosecute those identified to be damaging national security "more decisively than all previous eras".

"The fourth battlefield is the street – the social field, " Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf remarked, naming the other three elements as military operations, diplomatic negotiations, and economic services to the individuals.

Police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan additionally identified livelihoods, unemployment, the economy and petrol as feasible "pretexts" for localised or nationwide protests. He ordered continuous monitoring and the readiness of forces under his control to prepare for unrest.

Notably, the latest message attributed to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in late August additionally indicated a focus on national unity.

"I declare decisively that anything harmful to social cohesion is prohibited, " the statement read. It has been adorned on posters and banners by his supporters nationwide.

Civil authorities have additionally intensified punishments against residents and businesses discovered to be acting against national security.

On Thursday, Iran's Supreme Court confirmed that prominent businessman Sadegh Saedinia was sentenced to at least 12.5 years in prison and will have his millions of dollars in assets confiscated by the state for what they remarked was backing for nationwide protests in January.

His brand – which included cafes, food firms and hospitality complexes nationwide – had posted two Instagram stories to announce a strike in backing of the protesters. Saedinia afterwards issued a "confession" to say he regretted the action.

Some of the dozens who have been executed by judicial authorities since the start of the war with the US on February 28 were remarked to be involved in these protests.

In short, iran President Pezeshkian calls for unity as US ramps up economic pressure is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.