Iranian President Acknowledges 'Multiple Difficulties' on Eve of U.S. Sanctions Tightening

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai said that Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir will visit Tehran on Monday. Baghai stated in a press release that the visit is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to promote peace and security in the region, according to Reuters. Pakistan is playing a mediating role in negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the war between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that Iranian society is facing “several difficulties,” as the United States plans to intensify pressure on Iran’s economy by imposing a new round of sanctions. In a televised address, Pezeshkian said, “I recognize that our society is currently experiencing several hardships. We are doing our utmost to prevent the situation from worsening,” and added, “We are striving to overcome inflation, living costs, and unemployment, and to ensure a future in which the people can live with dignity and honor,” according to the Agence France-Presse.

These remarks come as the United States threatened on Thursday to tighten economic sanctions on Iran “to push this regime toward collapse,” nearly six months after the outbreak of hostilities following initial U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to hold a press conference on the mechanism the United States intends to use to increase pressure on Tehran, nearly six months after the war began, which was triggered by Israeli-U.S. strikes against Iran.

Commenting on the U.S. statements, Pezeshkian said, “We are facing a comprehensive war on economic, military, and security fronts. (U.S. President Donald Trump) openly declares that he is imposing the harshest or most crushing sanctions on Iran.”