Exclusive: US naval blockade is paralysing daily life, Iranians tell Euronews

# Why This Matters The reported US naval blockade represents a critical escalation in economic pressure that extends far beyond typical sanctions enforcement, with documented consequences that reshape how ordinary Iranians access food, medicine, and fuel. When inflation reaches 70 percent, as claimed in these accounts, the purchasing power of ordinary workers collapses—a teacher or nurse's salary becomes insufficient for basic groceries within months, forcing families to skip meals or forgo medical treatment. This level of economic disruption historically precedes either major political upheaval or humanitarian deterioration; Iran's government faces simultaneous pressure from both desperate citizens and the collapse of tax revenue needed to maintain state functions. The practical impact extends globally too: Iranian oil offline removes supply from world markets, pushing energy prices higher everywhere and potentially destabilizing neighboring economies dependent on Iranian trade, while the humanitarian crisis could eventually trigger regional instability or migration pressures affecting Europe and Gulf states.