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An Economic Drama Is Unfolding in Iran
(Israel Hayom) Dr. Yossi Mansharof - Beneath the regime's shell of regional threats, the Iranian economy continues to bleed. The damages of war and the naval blockade, the sanctions, alongside structural corruption and the massive investment of state resources into funding regional terrorism, are pushing the regime against the wall. These consequences trickle directly into the pocket of the average Iranian citizen, who is daily losing purchasing power and trust in the system. The regime is planning a sharp hike in fuel prices, a move it tried to avoid for years due to its immense public sensitivity. Raising fuel prices will also translate into price increases for transportation, basic commodities, and services. In November 2019, a sudden and drastic fuel price hike led to a nationwide wave of protests that was brutally suppressed through the killing of hundreds of citizens. Applying heightened economic pressure and tightening sanctions are not merely punitive measures, but a primary strategic lever. The deeper the economic distress grows, the greater the internal pressure will be that forces regime leaders to turn their attention inward instead of exporting terror and regional subversion. The writer is a senior researcher at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy.