Iran’s Ghalibaf vows nation ‘will not surrender’ amid US naval blockade

Iran’s Ghalibaf Accuses US of Forcing ‘Surrender’ Through Blockade and Economic War

Iran’s Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued an audio message to the Iranian public on Wednesday accusing Washington of deploying a naval blockade, sanctions, and media manipulation to force Tehran into capitulation, as the country’s economy buckles under the weight of a three-week-old maritime siege.

“The enemy is trying to dismantle internal cohesion through economic pressure and psychological warfare,” Ghalibaf said, according to remarks carried by Iran’s Fars news agency. He described the current moment as one of the most critical periods in Iran’s modern history and said Washington was acting on “false intelligence” that would ultimately “cause everyone to suffer”.turkiyetoday

Calls for Austerity and Unity

In the wide-ranging message, Ghalibaf outlined five requests to Iranian society. Chief among them was a call for nationwide austerity, which he described as “the most effective missile people can fire at the enemy”. He urged citizens to adopt disciplined consumption, revive grassroots solidarity campaigns, and maintain unity across political lines. He also called on Iranians living abroad to support the country through their professional and international networks.turkiyetoday

“The Iranian nation has shown that it may sacrifice its life, but it will not surrender,” he said.turkiyetoday

Ghalibaf warned that the primary aim of the U.S. pressure campaign was to undermine national cohesion, though he did not rule out the possibility of renewed military action. In earlier remarks, he had accused Washington of trying to “turn negotiations into the signing of a capitulation”.tass

Economic Toll Mounts

The speech comes as Iran’s economy faces severe strain. The Iranian rial has plunged to a record low of approximately 1.81 million to the US dollar, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency, after losing roughly 15 percent of its value in just 48 hours in late April. Inflation reached 65.8 percent in the month ending April 20, according to Iran’s central bank, as reported by Reuters.republicworld

The U.S. naval blockade, imposed on April 13 following the collapse of the Islamabad Talks, has severely restricted Iran’s ability to export oil and petrochemicals. President Trump has claimed the blockade costs Iran approximately $500 million per day, a figure he has cited repeatedly on Truth Social. The blockade remains in full effect even as Trump paused Project Freedom, the operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, on Tuesday night.youtube

Fragile Standoff

Iran has attempted to circumvent the blockade by expanding overland trade corridors, particularly through Pakistan. But the economic damage continues to mount, with experts warning that the rial’s decline will further fuel inflation on imported goods, from food and medicine to electronics.youtube

Ghalibaf’s message reflects the difficult balance Iranian leaders are trying to strike: projecting strength and unity while the population endures deepening economic hardship. As he told Iranians on Wednesday, “The Iranian nation will endure … for the sake of independence”.turkiyetoday