Iranians say US naval blockade is crushing their daily livelihoods

Nearly six months after military conflict broke out between the United States, Israel and Iran, a reinstated US naval blockade off Iran's southern coast has brought much of the country's trade to a near standstill. After a brief pause following the Islamabad Memorandum, enforcement resumed in mid-July, and since then more than 80% of Iran's heavy imports and non-oil exports have been disrupted. Official inflation is nearing 70%, food inflation has surged to a record 128%, and non-oil trade has dropped almost 40% compared to pre-war levels.

In interviews with Euronews Farsi, Iranians from various sectors described how the blockade has upended their livelihoods. Gisoo, a Tehran-based shipping specialist, said containers from China frequently never reach Iran, getting stuck for months in Hong Kong, Karachi or Jebel Ali, while freight rates per container have jumped from around $3,000 to nearly $10,000.

Borders and mounting maintenance costs

With Bandar Abbas port operating far below capacity, trucks are increasingly routed through the poorly equipped Rimdan crossing with Pakistan. Trucker Aras from Kermanshah said operating costs have soared, with a pair of heavy truck tyres rising from 35 million to 250 million tomans, and spare parts for newer trucks becoming nearly impossible to find.

Empty shelves and shrinking meals

Mansour, an auto technician in Tehran, said his family has largely stopped buying meat and rice, relying instead on bread. Footwear vendor Hamid said critical medical supplies, including haemophilia treatments, have become hard to obtain, while soaring fuel costs are hurting people who depend on ride-hailing work to support their families.

Small businesses on the brink

Restaurant owner Mohammad, based outside Tehran, said he has lost roughly 60% of his customers as prices for domestic meat and staples rose due to the disappearance of imports, while utility bills have also climbed sharply. Several nearby businesses have already closed. Multiple interviewees warned that if the blockade persists, mounting economic pressure could eventually spark renewed public protests.