TEHRAN - Iran’s First Vice President Muhammad Reza Aref has declared that the country remains resilient and “not helpless” in the face of an all-out U.S.-led economic war designed to impose foreign will on the Iranian nation.
Speaking at a high-level meeting to review revenue strategies for the upcoming 1405 (2026-2027) national budget, Aref stated that while the enemy’s coercive measures have created challenges, the government is fully committed to transforming these threats into new opportunities for national development.
“We do not believe this is an easy task. Fundamentally, war is difficult, whether military or economic. It was not our choice; they were the ones who attacked in the middle of negotiations and imposed these conditions on our nation,” Aref noted, referencing recent hostile actions by Washington and its allies aimed at derailing diplomatic progress.
Despite the harsh realities of the unilateral sanctions regime, the First Vice President expressed strong optimism for the future, highlighting that Iran possesses innovative, homegrown methods across all economic sectors that will ultimately lead to the nation’s victory.
Aref stressed the urgent need to operationalize novel strategies to secure the projected revenues for the 1405 budget.
He reiterated the President’s firm directive that all state efforts must prioritize safeguarding the livelihoods of the public, particularly low-income households, ensuring that national resources directly serve the people and foil the enemy’s economic sabotage.