Iran faces just two months of gasoline as US sanctions choke economy

Iran’s fuel reserves have dwindled to roughly a two-month supply, according to senior Iranian sources, after months of U.S. bombing and a fresh wave of secondary sanctions that restrict the regime’s access to international finance and oil markets. The sanctions, unveiled as “Operation Economic Outcast,” are described by Treasury officials as the toughest ever imposed on Iran, intended to collapse the regime by choking its cash flow and forcing it to import gasoline it can no longer refine.

The United Arab Emirates recently suspended all financial transactions with Iran under U.S. pressure, further tightening the economic squeeze. Inflation has risen to a 12-month average of 69.9%, the rial has more than doubled in value against the dollar, and unemployment sits at 9.1%, leaving many citizens, such as a 34-year-old worker named Mahnaz, unable to meet basic expenses. China has signaled a willingness to align with U.S. efforts, a topic expected to dominate discussions during President Xi’s upcoming White House visit. Analysts warn the regime may soon be compelled to negotiate to avert a deeper crisis.