As nuclear sanctions put pressure on Tehran’s faltering economy, Iran’s rial currency dropped to a new low of 1.2 million to the US dollar on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
Iran Faces Economic Pressure
Traders gave the new exchange rate as efforts so far to resume discussions between America and Iran over its nuclear program look deadlocked.
The new record low is putting pressure on food prices and other factors have been making everyday living that much more tough for Iranians. Prices are soaring on meat, rice and other mainstays of the Iranian dinner table.
In the meanwhile, after the 12-day conflict in June, many are concerned about another round of combat between Iran and Israel, as well as maybe the United States.
Sanctions Strain Iran Economy
Ali Moshtagh, a 53-year-old electrical engineer, claims that “living will not only become more difficult for ordinary people, However, this may also heighten public worries about the government’s ability to maintain and upgrade the nation’s aging infrastructure, especially with sanctions limiting foreign currency inflows.
Iran’s economy has been badly damaged by international sanctions, notably since U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear agreement with global powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 agreement, which saw Iran sharply curtail its enrichment and stockpile of uranium in return for removal of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar.
Trump Intensifies Iran Sanctions
Mr. Trump resumed his “maximum pressure” campaign to impose sanctions on Tehran after taking office for a second term in January. He again went after enterprises dealing Iranian crude oil, especially those selling at a discount in China.
In late September, the United Nations reimposed nuclear sanctions on Iran using what diplomats referred to as its “snapback” mechanism. Those penalties again block Iranian assets overseas, stop weapons sales with Tehran and punish any advancement of Iran’s ballistic missile program, among other steps.
