Iranian families struggle to afford the basics as US ratchets up economic warfare
- Tehran households are finding food, medicine and other essentials increasingly unaffordable, even though stores remain stocked.
- The article says unemployment is rising and people who still have jobs are working longer hours while their earnings buy about half as much as they did a year ago.
- Nearly six months into the war with the United States and Israel, Iran’s economy is under heavy pressure from sanctions and a naval blockade that has made oil exports difficult.
- Iran has been responding by attacking oil-rich neighbors and U.S. bases and by disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Trump administration says it will impose even tougher sanctions, but some experts doubt that the pressure will quickly force Iranian military or political concessions.
Tehran’s grocery stores remain stocked, but many Iranian families cannot afford what they need. The story says prices have risen sharply, unemployment is up, and people with jobs are working longer hours for money that is worth far less than before. One taxi driver quoted in the report said his family has cut back on fruit, protein and leisure and now works on weekends as well.
The article says the strain comes after nearly six months of war involving the United States and Israel. Sanctions and a naval blockade have made it hard for Iran to export oil, which is described as its most important source of revenue. The report also says the only major exception for many households is heavily subsidized gasoline.
Iran has tried to answer the pressure by striking oil-rich neighbors and U.S. bases and by disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. That has pushed up global energy prices and is part of Tehran’s effort to secure sanctions relief and leverage over the waterway. The Trump administration says it will increase sanctions further, but the article notes that some experts are skeptical the pressure will produce a quick change in Iran’s position.
随着美国加大经济战，伊朗家庭正为基本生活开支发愁
德黑兰的商店仍然有货，但许多伊朗家庭已经买不起基本生活用品。报道称，物价大幅上涨、失业率上升，而仍在工作的人则不得不延长工时，却只能拿到购买力远低于从前的收入。文中一名出租车司机说，他的家庭已经削减了水果、蛋白质和休闲开支，甚至周末也要继续工作。
文章称，这种压力出现在与美国和以色列的战争进入近六个月之后。制裁和海上封锁让伊朗难以出口石油，而石油被描述为其最重要的收入来源。报道还指出，对许多家庭来说，唯一相对不那么昂贵的项目是受到大幅补贴的汽油。
伊朗则通过袭击产油国邻国和美国基地、并扰乱霍尔木兹海峡航运来回应压力。这些做法推高了全球能源价格，也是德黑兰争取解除制裁、并在该水道上获得筹码的手段。特朗普政府表示将进一步加码制裁，但文中提到，一些专家怀疑这种压力能否很快改变伊朗的立场。