Iranians queue for petrol after US announces new sanctions

Long queues formed at petrol stations across Tehran on Tuesday after the United States announced fresh sanctions targeting Iran, AFP reported. The new measures come as Washington seeks to increase economic pressure on Tehran after six months of war that has reached a military stalemate, with peace talks stalled and most traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz blocked. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday outlined plans for what he called the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, saying the objective was to “sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime”. According to AFP, Iranian authorities have largely shrugged off Washington’s threats, noting that the country has lived under US sanctions for decades. But residents in Tehran expressed concern that the latest measures could further affect fuel supplies and the wider economy. The queues at petrol stations came amid growing uncertainty over fuel availability and prices as the latest US measures add to economic pressure on Iran.