Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Iranians Say US Sanctions Hurt the People, Not Government
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
July 2, 2019

Share

TEHRAN, Iran — While opinions differ across Tehran’s Grand Bazaar about the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran over its unraveling nuclear deal, there’s one thing those in the beating heart of Iran’s capital city agree on: American sanctions hurt the average person, not those in charge.
From an English-language teacher hoping for peace to an appliance salesman who applauded President Donald Trump as a “successful businessman,” all said they suffered from the economic hardships sparked by re-imposed and newly created American sanctions. The Iranian rial’s collapse has eaten into the savings of a retired bank clerk, while a young man with a shock of bleached-blond hair says those his age want to leave the country.
Iranians spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday, a day after authorities acknowledged the country had broken through the limit placed on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by the 2015 nuclear deal. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal a year ago.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have seen the U.S. rush an aircraft carrier, nuclear-capable B-52 bombers, F-22 fighters and thousands of additional troops to the Middle East. While Iran says it doesn’t seek war, it recently shot down a U.S. military surveillance drone. Iran also now acknowledges an “intentional” disruption to GPS coordinates in the country by authorities, interfering with position data used by the U.S. military for airstrikes and drone flights.
Under the nuclear deal, Iran agreed to have less than 661 pounds of uranium enriched to a maximum of 3.67%, which can be used for power stations but is far below weapons-grade levels of 90%. Both Iran and the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency confirmed Monday that Tehran had broken through that limit.

More Economic Suffering

While that represents Iran’s first major departure from the accord, it still remains likely a year away from having enough material for a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, but the West fears it could allow Iran to build a bomb.

“There should be some negotiations. Both parties should talk in a friendly manner. They should think about the Iranian people and the Iranian society and the American society. Young people should not suffer more than this.” — Nahroba Alirezei, a 35-year-old English-language teacher
Iran also has threatened for weeks to push its enrichment closer to weapons-grade levels on July 7 if Europe doesn’t put forth a new deal to protect Tehran from U.S. sanctions. As the stockpile and enrichment rises, the estimated year narrows.
“There should be some negotiations. Both parties should talk in a friendly manner,” said Nahroba Alirezei, a 35-year-old English-language teacher. “They should think about the Iranian people and the Iranian society and the American society. Young people should not suffer more than this.”
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged Iran to “show restraint, not yield to emotions.” China expressed regret, while French President Emmanuel Macron urged Iran to reduce its stockpile.
Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani criticized the increasing U.S. military presence in a televised speech.
“They think they can just come and occupy a country by sending four warships to the region,” Larijani said. He also warned other countries in the region not to join any U.S. coalition against it, saying: “If they rally against us, they will have to pay the price for it.”
While the government says challenging the West over its nuclear program is necessary, some Iranians like Sajjad Nazary, a 23-year-old university student in Tehran, question the move as leading to more economic suffering.
People shop at the old main bazaar in Tehran, Iran. As the U.S. piles on sanctions, it’s the average Iranian who feels it the most. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Signs Iran Is Taking the Threat of Military Escalation Seriously

“Instead of the nuclear program, the Iranian people need bread,” Nazary told the AP outside of Tehran’s sprawling bazaar. “They want their economic situation to get better. The point is with nuclear energy, you can’t make your children’s bellies feel full.”

“Instead of the nuclear program, the Iranian people need bread. They want their economic situation to get better. The point is with nuclear energy, you can’t make your children’s bellies feel full.”Sajjad Nazary, a 23-year-old university student in Tehran
But Nazary, like others there, said he didn’t believe a war would break out.
“Trump is too smart to do that and he’ll in no way harm himself like that,” Nazary said. “The situation is dangerous but none of us are aware of the politics. Maybe all of this was a threat to meant to open some new ways.”
He added: “This was just a threat to make the Iranian officials come to their senses.”
Despite that optimism, there are signs Iran is taking the threat of a possible military escalation seriously.
Hossein Fallah Joshaghani, a government telecommunications official, told the state-run IRNA news agency Monday that the source of the GPS disruptions in the country had been determined, but no action was taken. That suggests an authority in Iran is actively disrupting GPS systems, which can be used for U.S. drones and airstrikes, as well as civil aviation and mobile phone apps.
While some blame Trump for the tensions, Mehdi Hamzeh Nia, a 39-year-old appliance salesman, applauded the U.S. president as a “successful businessman, a man who knows what he’s doing and doesn’t want others to know what he’s doing.”
Asked about the economy, which has seen the rial go from 32,000 to $1 to now nearly 130,000, Hamzeh Nia blamed not just the sanctions but local mismanagement as well. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s government has careened between economic crises involving poor planning and embezzlement, which U.S. sanctions have exacerbated.

‘There is No Future for You Here’

“I think 50% is related to sanctions and 50% is domestic,” he said. “Even if the foreign 50% is resolved, and the domestic 50% is not fixed, our situation will still get worse.”
That fall in the rial has hit retirees particularly hard. Yussuf, a retired banking official who would only give the AP his first name for fear of retribution, said things remained extremely difficult for those on fixed incomes like himself. He said he took on odd jobs to help make ends meet.
“I think in very tough situations, wise decisions are made easier,” he said. “I think that the officials at the right moment will not let us fall off the edge of a cliff.”
But he was not complimentary of Trump’s approach.
“In the past he was not predictable, but now he almost is,” Yussuf said. “For everyone around the world, it’s now clear that he only thinks about American interests.”
Nazary and Hamzeh Nia, both younger men, said they thought about leaving Iran, given the stress. Hamzeh Nia said he worried about how to support his family, which includes a 5-year-old son.
“We would love to leave, if the situation remains like this,” Hamzeh Nia said. “There is no future for you here.”
But the most pressing concern for Alirezei, the English teacher, is the need to ease tensions.
“It’s not a good idea to respond to threats with threats,” Alirezei said.
Asked what she hoped for, she responded in English: “Peace, just peace.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

DON'T MISS

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

DON'T MISS

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

DON'T MISS

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

DON'T MISS

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

DON'T MISS

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

DON'T MISS

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

DON'T MISS

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

DON'T MISS

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

DON'T MISS

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

UP NEXT

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

UP NEXT

Exclusive: US Congress Republicans Seek $27 Billion for Golden Dome in Trump Tax Bill

UP NEXT

China Exempts Some Goods From US Tariffs

UP NEXT

Trump Poised to Offer Saudi Arabia Over $100 Billion Arms Package, Sources Say

UP NEXT

On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again

UP NEXT

Two From Search Group That Uncovered Mexico’s ‘Ranch of Horror’ Killed

UP NEXT

Chicago Bears Great Steve McMichael Dies at 67 After Battle With ALS

UP NEXT

Long Wait Is Over for Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Other Draft Prospects Joining the NFL

UP NEXT

Golden State’s Jimmy Butler Injured in Game 2 Loss, His Status for Game 3 Unknown

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

4 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

5 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

5 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

5 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

6 hours ago

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

6 hours ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

6 hours ago

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

7 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

7 hours ago

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

8 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

Virginia Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a te...

39 minutes ago

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to reporters in New York on Aug. 27, 2019. Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a teenager to rich and powerful predators, including Prince Andrew of Britain, died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia. She was 41. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)
39 minutes ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

4 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

4 hours ago

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

4 hours ago

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

Selma Mayor Scott Robertson (left) has been charged with misdemeanor electioneering for allegedly campaigning near voters at a polling place during the November 2024 election. (Facebook)
5 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

5 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

5 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

6 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend