Madanizadeh said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, the Central Bank, the Plan and Budget Organization, the ministries of Industry, Mining and Trade and Agriculture Jihad, as well as the president, the first vice president and the entire cabinet, were devoting their full efforts to addressing the country's economic problems and mitigating the impact of external pressure.
He said Iran's adversaries were seeking to disrupt the country's normal economic activity by creating obstacles along trade and commercial routes, particularly in neighboring countries. The government, he added, was working to counter these pressures and restore economic activity to normal.
Acknowledging that the restrictions had affected people's daily lives and household livelihoods, the minister stressed that the government was fully aware of the resulting difficulties and was taking extensive measures to address them rather than remaining idle.
He noted that some government initiatives were not being made public due to security considerations and operational sensitivities, explaining that many measures were being pursued behind the scenes to prevent adversaries from taking countermeasures. Their results, he said, would gradually become visible over the coming weeks and months.
Madanizadeh also highlighted the difficult circumstances facing Iran following an 'all-out war,' compounded by a severe naval blockade and continued external pressure.
Despite these challenges, he said, the government had managed to maintain the flow of goods into and out of the country and keep trade operations running.
However, logistical restrictions had slowed the movement of goods and lengthened queues at some border crossings. With maritime routes in the south closed, part of the country's trade and cargo traffic had been redirected toward northern borders and land crossings, placing additional pressure on their capacity and increasing waiting times.
The minister said the government had anticipated the need to use alternative trade routes and had made preparations accordingly. He added that cabinet members and relevant authorities were working to remove the resulting bottlenecks, highlighting the efforts of Transport and Urban Development Minister Farzaneh Sadegh, particularly in improving border terminals.
US Sanctions Directly Target the Livelihoods and Health of Iranians
Madanizadeh criticized US officials for imposing sanctions, threats, and various forms of economic pressure on the Iranian people while simultaneously accusing the Iranian government of neglecting their economic welfare.
He questioned who was actually responsible for the pressure on Iran's economy, asking whether it was Iranian officials or those imposing sanctions and threats against the country.
He stressed that Iran's adversaries were seeking to impose maximum, all-encompassing pressure with the aim of disrupting people's lives.
Addressing the humanitarian consequences of sanctions, the minister said restrictions on the transfer of medicines into Iran could drive up drug prices or temporarily make certain medications scarce while the government sought alternative sources and supply routes.
During such periods, he warned, people faced greater hardship and suffering, and the resulting shortages could even contribute to increased mortality.
Madanizadeh said such consequences were hardly surprising, arguing that those responsible for killing innocent schoolchildren had no qualms about inflicting further suffering on the Iranian people through economic pressure.
He maintained that these measures directly threatened the lives, health and livelihoods of ordinary Iranians.
Government Vows to Sustain Industrial Production and Finance Businesses
Reassuring the public, Madanizadeh said all government officials were working tirelessly to improve household living conditions and keep the country's economic engine running.
One of the government's main priorities, he emphasized, was to keep factories operational and prevent disruptions to the production cycle. This required ensuring that businesses and manufacturing units had continued access to financing.
The minister acknowledged that financing production units under current circumstances was particularly challenging, given persistent inflationary pressures.
He added that the government must also maintain strict control over liquidity growth, making the task of supporting production while preserving monetary stability especially demanding.