As we reported, the Iranian regime has lost its grip on the one piece of leverage it may have had with the Strait of Hormuz in its battle with the U.S.
Ship traffic has greatly increased by 400 percent over the past couple of weeks. That's thanks to the U.S. helping to shepherd vessels through the area. While it's still not up to the pre-military action traffic, it's increasing, and it shows people are thumbing their noses at the regime.
Add that to their economy being in free fall, and the civilian leaders in Iran know they are in trouble. As we noted, the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, was arguing they needed to bring the war to an "end now," while they could do so in a "position of strength and dignity,” Translation: while they could pretend before the complete collapse. He appeared to take a shot at the hardliners, criticizing people "sitting outside the circle" who "do not know the state of the government."
READ MORE: Iran Is Losing Its Grip As New Data Show Ships Thumbing Their Noses at Them in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's President Claims Position of Strength, Urges End to US Conflict
But Pezeshkian wasn't the only one admitting there were big problems and flashing warning signs for the regime.
“No matter how strong we are militarily, if the people are hungry and we do not have financial circulation, economic growth and domestic production, we will not endure,” parliamentary speaker Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said while visiting Iraq on Friday.
In another swipe at Iran’s hawks, he added, “As someone who has experienced war, we understand the true value of peace.”
On top of that, Iran’s central bank governor admitted on state TV that the U.S. naval blockade has stopped Iran from selling its oil, which is a critical part of its revenue.
“It is a reality that we are not exporting oil,” Abdolnaser Hemmati said. “The Americans have frozen our foreign exchange reserves and do not allow us to access them.”
The blockade is also preventing critical products from coming into Iran. On top of that, the United Arab Emirates’ decision this week to impose a total embargo on trade and financial transactions with Iran will cut off a vital lifeline.
The numbers are bad.
The economic toll is already catastrophic. Inflation has soared above 80%, with prices for certain food staples up 100%. The currency, which triggered nationwide protests late last year after it collapsed, has lost a further 30% of its value this year.
President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have already promised even more, with an "Economic D-Day" coming.
READ MORE: Trump Announces 'Economic D-Day' Against Iran, Will Be 'Most Crushing' Financial Operation Ever
Boom: Bessent Goes Beastmode With Latest Effort Against Iran
It sounds like they are teetering on the brink.
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