Iran Wages Economic War as Sanctions Bite
Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref warned of an 'economic war' after the country claimed military victory in its confrontation with the US and Israel. Aref stated that Iran's adversaries are trying to recover from setbacks on the military front by squeezing the economy and exploiting rising prices to ignite public anger.
Aref's warning coincided with a sharp attack on Canada, which sanctioned five more Iranian officials over alleged threats to navigation around the Strait of Hormuz. The Canadian government accused the targeted officials of involvement in activities that undermined international peace and security.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused Canada of serving as Washington's 'farm team', borrowing an ice-hockey term for a junior affiliate that supplies players to a major club.