Sanctions Pressure, War Costs, and Humanitarian Strain

The US has expanded sanctions against Iran's shadow fleet, including 17 vessels described by officials as a major new blow, alongside measures targeting oil revenue, finance, transport, manufacturing, metals, procurement, and proxy networks. Claims that Iranian loading has stopped or sharply declined remain difficult to verify because of evasion and alternative buyers. Economic pressure is deepening fiscal and humanitarian stress but has not produced a negotiating breakthrough.