Yoni Ben Menachem, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs, assesses that the US naval blockade is severely damaging Iran's oil exports and disrupting maritime trade. He warns that the Iranian public bears the brunt of inflation and rising prices, while the IRGC believes it can outlast the pressure, hoping the international community will eventually push for sanctions relief.
In an analysis published Wednesday, Yoni Ben Menachem of the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs (JCFA) offered a detailed assessment of the economic campaign against Iran. Ben Menachem warns that the US naval blockade, which has delayed dozens of oil tankers in the Gulf and paralyzed large parts of maritime trade, is inflicting severe damage on Iran's oil exports—the regime's primary source of hard currency. He notes that the Iranian public is paying the heaviest price, with rising inflation and surging food prices eroding living standards. The IRGC, he argues, believes it can outlast the pressure, betting that the international community will eventually push for sanctions relief. The assessment comes amid a broader US maximum pressure campaign, which has included the cancellation of all prior authorizations for Iranian oil exports, as The Zioneer has reported. Ben Menachem suggests that the success of the strategy will be measured not only by the economic damage to Iran but by whether the pressure leads to a change in regime policy or further regional escalation.
- DevelopingIran's industry minister admits naval blockade drives up domestic prices
- DevelopingIranian deputy foreign minister: Iran using alternative routes to bypass US naval siege; Strait closure pressures global trade
- StrongIranian diplomat to WSJ: US pressure deepens regime rift, hardliners push for Hormuz seizure
- DevelopingIranian MP: US naval blockade and economic pressure worse than 40-day war
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