The Iranian economy is waiting for a few days in the near future as a new package of US sanctions approaches, amid fears that this will fuel more social and political anger on the Iranian street.
The new punitive measures come within the framework of the policy of US President Donald Trump to tighten the screws on Tehran, after the announcement of withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in May.
Trump believes that the agreement signed by Tehran with six superpowers in 2015 has not helped to curb Iran's hostile and destabilizing activities in the Middle East, where the mullahs' regime is betting on its sectarian arms to cause devastation.
The first US sanctions package last August affected Iran dramatically and led to a sharp fall in the local currency. Several international companies announced their withdrawal from the country to avoid being blacklisted in the United States.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the growth of the Iranian economy will fall by 3.6 percent next year due to tough US measures and the inability of European partners to agree to extend the lifeline to Tehran.
Under the sanctions, which came into force on August 6, the Iranian government was banned from buying or acquiring the dollar, as well as banning any trade in gold and other precious metals with the country, whether in crude or semi-manufactured (aluminum, steel and industry-oriented programs).
At the same time, sanctions have been imposed on Iran's sovereign debt and strict measures to supply the country with any parts of the auto industry. This package has dealt a devastating blow to Tehran, which was betting on reaping the benefits of an agreement promised by the "reformists."
The second strike
US sanctions on November 4 prohibit investment in Iran's energy sector, whether it is buying, transferring, owning or marketing Iran's gas or its oil and petrochemical products, the Wall Street Journal reported.
US sanctions include any dealings with Iran's national oil company along with other companies and individuals. Moreover, the sanctions prohibit any dealings with Iran's central bank and the rest of the country's financial institutions.
The US administration is betting on tougher sanctions and crippling the Iranian economy so that the country's officials are forced to sit down on the negotiating table and accept a new agreement that corrects the loopholes in the 2015 document. Iran has acquired international facilities without ceasing its sabotage activities.
One of the manifestations of the economic crisis in Iran is that the support provided by the government after the lifting of subsidies on fuel is insufficient after the local currency fell to a catastrophic level. Since this support estimated at 455 thousand riyals per person was equivalent to ten dollars in January, Currently exceeds $ 3.5.
Faced with this situation, Iran finds itself in a real dilemma. It has to support the poor to avoid the anger of the street, but in return it needs important financial resources to provide such support in a difficult period.
