Can Iran Withstand Trump’s New Economic War as U.S. Sanctions Intensify?

Iran Prepares for Tougher U.S. Economic Pressure

Iran says it must strengthen its economy and reduce its vulnerability to foreign pressure as Washington prepares to impose what U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Tehran.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf said on Friday that the country needed a strategy to overcome what he called “unjust sanctions,” signalling that Tehran expects economic pressure to become a central element of the confrontation with Washington.

Bessent said on Thursday that details of the new measures would be announced on Monday. The timing suggests Washington is seeking to intensify economic pressure on Iran while potentially reducing the need for further major military action.

Tehran Links Economic Strength to National Security

Qalibaf, one of Iran’s most influential political figures and a leading negotiator in talks with the United States, argued that economic development and national security were closely connected.

He accused the United States and Israel of pursuing economic and “cognitive” warfare after concluding that they could not defeat Iran and Iraq through direct military confrontation.

Qalibaf said Iran therefore needed to develop mechanisms that would allow it to withstand external economic pressure rather than remain dependent on international systems vulnerable to U.S. sanctions.

Iran Looks to Iraq for Stronger Economic Ties

Speaking to Iranian and Iraqi business representatives in Baghdad, Qalibaf also called for deeper economic cooperation between Iran and Iraq.

He proposed greater use of national currencies in bilateral trade to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar.

The proposal reflects a longstanding Iranian strategy of reducing exposure to the dollar-based international financial system, which gives Washington significant leverage over countries and institutions dealing with sanctioned entities.

For Tehran, expanding trade with neighbouring countries could provide an important economic lifeline if Washington significantly tightens sanctions.

Washington Escalates Economic Pressure

The planned sanctions come as the United States increases pressure on Iran and seeks to force Tehran to make concessions.

Bessent’s description of the measures as the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran indicates that Washington is targeting the country’s ability to generate revenue and maintain access to international markets.

For Iran, the challenge is particularly serious because the country has already spent decades adapting to sanctions and restrictions.

Can Sanctions Force Iran to Change Course?

The latest confrontation highlights a familiar dilemma in U.S.-Iran relations: Washington sees economic pressure as a tool to force Tehran to change its behaviour, while Iran increasingly treats sanctions as a long-term strategic challenge to be managed rather than a temporary crisis.

Qalibaf’s comments suggest Tehran is preparing for precisely that scenario. Greater reliance on neighbouring markets, local currencies and regional trade could help Iran reduce some of the impact of U.S. financial restrictions.

However, those alternatives cannot completely replace access to the global financial system. If Washington succeeds in targeting the channels through which Iran earns revenue and conducts international transactions, the economic costs could become considerably heavier.

The outcome will therefore depend not only on the severity of the new sanctions but also on whether countries such as Iraq are willing and able to expand economic ties with Iran under increased U.S. pressure.

The emerging battle is increasingly economic rather than purely military: Washington is betting that financial isolation can force Tehran back to the negotiating table, while Iran is trying to prove that regional economic networks can help it withstand another round of maximum pressure.

With information from Reuters.