Iran vows to resist U.S. sanctions as war passes 6-month mark

# Why This Matters Iran's hardened resistance rhetoric at the six-month mark signals that both Washington and Tehran have settled into prolonged confrontation, dimming prospects for near-term diplomatic off-ramps. This entrenchment has immediate consequences: sanctions will continue strangling Iran's oil exports and access to foreign currency, accelerating inflation and limiting the government's ability to fund social services and infrastructure—pressures that historically destabilize regimes but can also entrench hardliners who blame external enemies rather than domestic failures. For global markets, a conflict with no resolution timeline creates persistent uncertainty in energy prices and shipping security through the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-third of seaborne oil passes daily. The lack of any visible negotiating channel also raises the risk that miscalculation or escalation by either side could transform the current undeclared conflict into direct military confrontation with far-reaching regional consequences.