Tehran has rejected claims that Iran is unable to support its regional allies, while formally acknowledging that economic sanctions imposed by the US regime and ongoing conflicts have generated substantial financial challenges for the country.

Last week, US Central Command chief Brad Cooper claimed that military strikes and a naval blockade targeting Iran’s southern ports had dealt severe blows to the nation. The admiral alleged that Washington had prevented at least $25bn in crude exports and frozen approximately $350m in cryptocurrency assets.

President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged on Sunday that military attacks and the maritime blockade had created considerable problems for the country. However, he maintained that the government was relying on domestic capacities to withstand the pressure, claiming that consumption management had eliminated the necessity for costly fuel imports.

Analysts suggest that despite severe economic headwinds and pessimistic international forecasts, the Iranian authorities remain steadfast in their strategic calculations. Observers note that the long-standing bet by Western policymakers that financial strain would force a fundamental shift in Tehran's policies has historically proven ineffective.

Source: www.aljazeera.com