During a televised press briefing, Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s former defense minister and current senior advisor to the Supreme Leader, warned that the United States’ intensified economic sanctions constitute an admission of military failure in the region. Shamkhani cited the recent Treasury actions targeting Iranian oil exports, banking institutions, and technology firms, arguing that the U.S. is attempting to “cripple Iran’s economy” after its inability to achieve strategic objectives through force. He called on regional allies to unite against what he described as a “global campaign of economic aggression” and promised that Iran would continue to pursue self‑reliance and resistance despite the pressure.
On top of everything as it happens