Iran faces fuel shortages amid U.S. economic pressure

Iran is facing a severe economic crisis characterized by inflation exceeding 100% and significant fuel shortages. Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah admitted the country suffers a daily deficit of approximately 15 million liters of gasoline, a situation exacerbated by a United States naval blockade that has hindered imports.

The Trump administration has signaled it does not intend to return to previous memorandum terms, opting instead for a strategy of intense economic pressure. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted that Tehran is struggling to pay police and military forces, while U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused the Iranian government of prioritizing foreign allies over its own citizens.

In response to these pressures, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian are scheduled to hold their sixth bilateral meeting on September 1 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.