Behind the Scenes of a High-Level Meeting in Tehran.. and a Warning of the "Toughest Periods"

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The resignation of Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad did not come out of nowhere, but rather came amid the pressures of the ongoing war between Iran and the United States that has lasted for seven months on the country's economy.

It also came after rare warnings issued by Iranian National Security Advisor Mohsen Rezai, which were overlooked by official Iranian media, except for the "IRNA" agency. It merely indicated that Rezai described the current situation in a high-level government meeting held last Saturday in Tehran as "one of the most difficult periods the country has faced."

This meeting was attended by Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian and several senior ministers, according to the "New York Times."

It is worth noting that Bezhakian acknowledged the deterioration of economic conditions in a post on social media last Saturday. However, he confirmed that the government has "adopted a new approach to managing the exceptional circumstances."

However, no additional details were provided regarding the nature of this approach or the measures the government intends to implement.

Since the outbreak of the war between Tehran and Washington on February 28, the Iranian rial has sharply declined, but this decline has accelerated in recent weeks with the tightening of U.S. sanctions and the continuation of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports. This has led to an increase in the cost of imports and deepened the cost-of-living crisis that Iran has been suffering from for years, a crisis that had sparked widespread protests across the country last December, before security forces suppressed them.

Analysts noted that the U.S. naval blockade has significantly limited Iran's ability to export its oil, which is the main source of state revenue, exacerbating the fuel crisis within the country.

In addition to the naval blockade, the United States has imposed restrictions on most civilian flights between Iran and the rest of the world, adding a new layer of economic isolation.

In recent days, employees in both the public and private sectors, including nurses and teachers, announced via social media that they were leaving their jobs due to insufficient salaries to cover living expenses.

Local media reported that retirees from the government sector organized protests in recent weeks, confirming that they have not received their full retirement entitlements.

Economic pressures on Tehran have increased as negotiations with Washington have stalled, with both sides sticking to their positions and refusing to make concessions. In recent weeks, American officials have confirmed that their country is making progress in the economic confrontation with Iran.