Iran sanctions may finally trigger a breaking point, analysts say

In an opinion piece, the writer maintains that the United States and its allies have finally applied sustained, maximum-pressure sanctions that could bring Iran to a boiling point. He explains that earlier cycles of tightening and easing let Tehran’s economy stabilize, but current actions are choking its shadow oil exports and cutting off financial intermediaries. Economic indicators such as the rial’s near-total devaluation and a spike in the domestic misery index suggest severe hardship for ordinary Iranians.

Recent nationwide energy-worker strikes and protests signal rising public anger. According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the regime now faces a choice between starving its security forces or burdening the populace, a dilemma that could spark internal collapse. The author urges policymakers to maintain the pressure rather than offer premature relief, arguing that the critical moment is imminent.