Gas queues grow in Tehran as US tightens sanctions, but leaders hold firm

In Tehran, motorists are waiting hours outside petrol stations as the United States tightens its economic blockade and threatens further sanctions. The queues have lengthened in recent weeks, driven by shortages linked to the American measures and existing restrictions.

The pressure intensified on Tuesday when US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowed to fully cut Iran off from the global economy. Iranian officials have hinted at reducing heavy fuel subsidies to cope with the blockade, adding to public anxiety.

"Maybe we will face a shortage of fuel," said Hashem Abadi, a 34-year-old barber. "I rush to the filling stations whenever my tank is down to half or so."

For many, the strain goes beyond petrol. Double-digit inflation and a record-low rial have made everyday goods increasingly unaffordable. Taxi driver Mahmoud Chavoshi, 51, said, "I'm filling my car as much as possible since soon it will be sold at higher prices. Everything I buy has grown more expensive over the last week, from milk to pasta."

Grocery stores remain stocked, but customers are buying less. Morteza Daryani, who runs a shop in Tehran, noted, "Some of our regular customers buy now and pay later, since their pockets are not as full as before."

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Washington of resorting to economic pressure after failing to defeat Iran militarily, saying it aims to create "social problems and economic dissatisfaction in order to throw Iran into chaos." He insisted, "Should we bow down to the problems and surrender? Absolutely not."

So far, the economic discontent has not sparked the kind of mass protests seen earlier this year, when authorities violently suppressed demonstrations. Iran has long endured sanctions over its nuclear program and support for armed groups, with oil sales to China providing a crucial lifeline.

Experts warn of limits to resilience. "People are losing their purchasing power every day," said Mohammad Farzanegan, a professor of Middle Eastern economics at the University of Marburg. "All of this, combined with worsening diplomatic prospects and the psychological burden of mounting pressures, could push frustration to a point where it can no longer be effectively managed by the state."

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation noted that the sectors targeted by Bessent "are not lifelines for the Iranian state, they are lifelines for the Iranian people," pointing to digital assets, gold, technology, aviation, and shipping as vital for ordinary citizens.

The naval blockade has been the most effective pressure so far. The UAE's recent decision to cut all trade and financial ties with Iran could have longer-term effects if implemented, said Sascha Bruchmann of the International Institute of Strategic Studies. Bessent suggested Washington's pressure prompted the UAE move and expects more countries to follow.

Iran is countering by largely closing the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carried a fifth of global oil and gas before the war, betting that the impact on world markets and US fuel prices will force Washington to relent. "Trump is betting that their time runs out first due to the naval blockade," Bruchmann said. "Both clocks are ticking, and no one knows which clock is right."