Iran's Economic Siege Tightens as War Enters Sixth Month
The six-month mark of the US-Israel coordinated military campaign against Iran has shown that survival is becoming increasingly costly for Tehran. The war, which began on February 28, is often framed as the latest turn in the long-standing antagonism between Washington and Tehran, but its context is more complex.
The conflict is a direct result of the aftermath of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, which spread across the region and weakened Iran's network of allies. The increasing confrontation between Israel and Iran culminated in the 12-day war of June 2025 and eventually led to the current campaign.
Initially, Tehran could present its survival as a victory, but six months on, the pressure has shifted to the economy, which is struggling under an economic siege with no signs of lifting. The US has intensified its economic pressure, launching Operation Economic Outcast on August 24, aimed at severing Iran's remaining financial links with the outside world.
The campaign includes secondary sanctions on those moving Iranian oil and measures against its 'shadow fleet' and financial networks. Iran's oil exports have fallen below half a million barrels a day, and inflation is approaching 90 percent, with food prices more than double what they were a year ago.