Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Iran Pushes De-Dollarisation as US Tightens Financial Sanctions
Iran’s supreme leader says the country should depend more on its own factories and businesses.
He also wants Iran to use fewer US dollars in important transactions.
He called this plan a “Resistance Economy.”
The plan is meant to help with inflation, unemployment, prices and investment.
Khamenei said imports should still be used when Iran cannot produce something itself.
He linked the plan to pressure from the United States and Israel.
The United States recently announced more financial sanctions connected to Iran.
US officials said the sanctions target people and companies helping Iran use the international financial system.
Iran presents greater economic independence as the answer, while the United States says pressure is needed to limit illicit financial activity.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged Iran to boost domestic production and gradually reduce the dollar’s role.
He said a self-reliant “Resistance Economy” should address inflation, unemployment, prices, investment and production.
Khamenei argued that Iran’s enemies falsely present submission to foreign demands as the path to economic progress.
The United States sanctioned Reza Mohammad Taeedi, manager of Bank Melli’s Dubai branch, and a Hong Kong-based company.
Washington said the measures target financial networks supporting Iran’s armed forces and other sanctioned entities.
- Who
- Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and the United States government, including the State Department and Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
- What
- Khamenei called for domestic production and gradual de-dollarisation, while Washington announced sanctions on an Iranian bank manager and a Hong Kong-based company.
- When
- The remarks and sanctions announcement occurred in the same period; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Khamenei spoke from Iran, while the sanctions involved Bank Melli’s Dubai branch and a Hong Kong-based company.
- Why
- Khamenei said economic self-reliance would counter external pressure; the United States said it was targeting financial networks supporting the Iranian regime and sanctioned entities.
Iranian economic strategy
US sanctions campaign
Reducing dollar dependence
Iranian economic strategy
Khamenei says gradually reducing the dollar’s role and increasing domestic production are necessary for economic resilience and a Resistance Economy.
US sanctions campaign
The United States says it is restricting financial channels that provide Iran access to the international financial system and US dollars.
Cause of Iran’s economic problems
Iranian economic strategy
Khamenei attributes pressure in part to actions by Iran’s enemies and rejects the idea that progress requires submission to their demands.
US sanctions campaign
US spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Iran’s regime prioritizes malign activities over the needs of its people and that Washington will target the economic lifelines sustaining it.
Role of financial institutions
Iranian economic strategy
Iran’s stated strategy emphasizes using domestic production and directing investment toward useful and necessary areas.
US sanctions campaign
The United States says Bank Melli and related networks support sanctioned Iranian military entities and illicit access to international finance.
- Iranian policy
- Boost domestic production and gradually phase out the dollar’s prominent role in key transactions.
- Economic priorities
- Address inflation, unemployment, price management, investment and production.
- Imports
- Use imports properly and wisely when domestic production is insufficient.
- Sanctioned individual
- Reza Mohammad Taeedi, identified as manager of Bank Melli’s Dubai branch.
- Sanctioned company
- A Hong Kong-based company accused by the United States of helping designated Iranian individuals and entities access international finance.
- Bank Melli
- The United States described it as a financial hub for Iran’s armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
- Additional US action
- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed revoking Banque Misr UAE’s correspondent banking access to US financial institutions.