Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Iranian President Acknowledges Domestic Problems as US Tightens Sanctions
Iran’s president said people in the country are dealing with many serious problems.
He said the government is trying to make life better.
He blamed strong pressure from the United States and new economic sanctions.
The sanctions are meant to make it harder for Iran’s economy and government to operate.
Iran is also facing high inflation, an unstable currency, unemployment and rising living costs.
These problems mean people can buy less with their money.
Protests began late last December because everyday expenses were becoming more expensive.
The Iranian government and foreign organizations gave different accounts of how many people died and what caused the violence.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is facing “many problems” and that his government is trying to address them.
Pezeshkian described US actions under President Donald Trump as a “full-scale economic, military and security war.”
Washington’s new sanctions campaign is described as seeking to isolate Iran’s economy and bring about the Iranian government’s “collapse.”
Inflation, exchange-rate fluctuations, unemployment, livelihood problems and declining purchasing power have increased economic pressure on Iranians.
Protests that began over rising living costs late last December expanded into demonstrations against Iran’s political leadership, with conflicting accounts over the resulting deaths and crackdown.
- Who
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the government of Iran and the United States under President Donald Trump.
- What
- Pezeshkian acknowledged Iran’s domestic difficulties and criticized intensified US sanctions and pressure.
- When
- Sunday, August 23; the articles do not specify the year. The protests mentioned began late December of the previous year, according to the reports.
- Where
- Iran.
- Why
- Iran is facing inflation, currency fluctuations, unemployment, livelihood problems and declining purchasing power, while Washington is imposing sanctions to increase pressure on Tehran.
Iranian Government
United States and Foreign Critics
Cause of Iran’s difficulties
Iranian Government
Pezeshkian attributed Iran’s mounting economic, military and security pressure to actions by US President Donald Trump and what he described as severe sanctions.
United States and Foreign Critics
Washington is intensifying sanctions, reportedly aiming to isolate Iran’s economy and bring about the collapse of the Iranian government.
Interpretation of the unrest
Iranian Government
Iranian authorities said more than 3,000 people died during the protests and accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the violence.
United States and Foreign Critics
Foreign-based nongovernmental organizations said Iranian authorities carried out an indiscriminate crackdown that killed thousands.
Government response
Iranian Government
Pezeshkian said his government is working to overcome inflation, unemployment and livelihood problems so people can live with dignity.
United States and Foreign Critics
The articles emphasize that new US sanctions are adding to economic pressure already contributing to unrest, without providing a direct US response to Pezeshkian’s remarks.
- Iranian president
- Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is facing “many problems” and pledged efforts to address inflation, unemployment and livelihood concerns.
- US sanctions
- Washington announced a new sanctions campaign described in the articles as an effort to isolate Iran’s economy and pursue the government’s economic collapse.
- Iranian characterization
- Pezeshkian called the situation a “full-scale economic, military and security war” involving what he called the most severe sanctions.
- Economic pressures
- The articles cite severe inflation, exchange-rate fluctuations, unemployment, rising living costs and declining purchasing power.
- Protests
- Demonstrations that began over the cost of living late last December expanded into mass protests against Iran’s political leadership.
- Conflicting death accounts
- Iranian authorities said more than 3,000 people died and accused the United States and Israel of organizing the unrest; foreign-based nongovernmental organizations said authorities carried out an indiscriminate crackdown that killed thousands.
