President Pezeshkian Blames Foreign Pressure for Iran Economic Crisis

President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that Iran is facing significant difficulties and problems during a televised address on August 5, 2026. He attributed the nation's economic instability to foreign pressure, stating that "the enemy is exerting pressure in an attempt to provoke the people into protesting."

These remarks follow reports from the newspaper Jahan-e Sanat detailing a rise in the theft of basic groceries, including meat, cheese, and bread, from supermarkets. The thefts coincide with severe food inflation reported by the Statistical Center of Iran, which noted that prices for bread and cereals rose 140% and dairy products increased 116.8% as of March 2026.

Further economic instability is evident in the collapsing currency, with the U.S. dollar surpassing 1.94 million rials in July. These combined factors indicate that a large portion of the Iranian population is losing access to basic nutrition.