TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said that despite the US government’s severe sanctions against the country, the Islamic Republic’s economy is moving toward a better and more stable situation.

“Despite the US’ imposition of tough sanctions, Iran’s economy is moving toward stability and improvement,” Jahangiri said in a speech in Tehran on Tuesday.

“This is while the Americans (have) waged an all-out economic war against Iran,” the first vice-president added.

“(Iran’s) macroeconomic indicators are promising and reports received from every single business confirm that,” Jahangiri stated.

The enemies thought that by these moves (sanctions), they would lead the Iranian economy into collapse, he said, adding that, however, the Iranian people passed through this difficult era and are “moving toward job creation, production and prosperity”.

The remarks come against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.

Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.

In comments on April 24, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the US’ attempts to block the export of Iranian oil will get nowhere as Tehran will be exporting any amount of crude it needs and wants.

Describing a cut in Iran’s reliance on the export of oil as an opportunity, the Leader said such an opportunity will be used for further reliance on internal capabilities.

“Although the sanctions pave the way for problems in certain cases, they will benefit the country if they are dealt with correctly and logically,” Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.