Protests have spread across Iran as citizens demonstrate against the worsening economic crisis, currency collapse, and rising cost of living. In response, President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the public to remain united in the face of sanctions and external threats. Speaking at a business forum in Tehran, he blamed foreign interference for the economic instability and said the country was engaged in a 'full-scale war' driven by economic pressure rather than military force. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran’s adversaries were attempting to bring the nation down through economic means, but insisted that unity and determination would prevent the country from being subdued. Iran’s economy has faced severe challenges since the reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018, following Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal. In September, European nations also moved to restore UN sanctions, accusing Tehran of violating the 2015 agreement, a move that came months after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. By the end of 2025, Iran’s currency, the rial, had lost about half its value against the dollar, with inflation reaching nearly 50 percent in December.