Iran leaders acknowledge economic hardship of war as U.S. steps up sanctions

Foreign trade down 35% due to sanctions and blockade, says Iranian president

Iran's president said sanctions and the US naval blockade had caused exports and imports to slump by nearly 35 percent.

Iranian leaders are acknowledging the economic toll of war with the United States, with the supreme leader calling on the government to address the hardship while the president reported foreign trade has shrunk 35 per cent due to the American sanctions and blockade. The warnings came even as other leaders threaten the