When the Trigger Dropped, a New Season Began

TEHRAN (Iran News) Sanctions inevitably deliver an initial shock to the economy, but the response to this shock can lay the foundations of a stronger, more resilient economic system.

Sanctions act as a form of compulsory “trade protection,” shielding domestic industries from foreign competition. Iran can seize this opportunity by making targeted investments in sectors where it enjoys comparative advantages—such as generic pharmaceuticals, petrochemical products, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Supporting startups and knowledge-based companies can ignite engines of innovation and job creation.

Today’s world has turned into multipolar economic blocs. The Islamic Republic of Iran can further reduce its dependence on the West by strengthening bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with regional powers and neighbors (such as Eurasia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the BRICS group). Expanding north–south and east–west transit corridors could make Iran an undeniable commercial hub.

Although these have been long-term goals, sanctions highlight their inevitability. Investment in tourism (historical, cultural, and eco-tourism), advanced agriculture, and processing industries can generate new sources of income and reduce the economy’s vulnerability.

It must be acknowledged that diplomacy is the most effective weapon for neutralizing sanctions. Continued constructive and controversy-free cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to demonstrate the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program is vital. This will enhance Iran’s moral and legal legitimacy and attract more allies. The Islamic Republic’s intelligent vision must convey its rightful narrative more effectively to the world. Promoting scientific, cultural, and peace-oriented achievements can balance Iran’s image in global media and prepare public opinion for changes in hostile policies.

The legal challenge of confronting unilateral and illegal sanctions in international courts, such as the International Court of Justice, can not only weaken these sanctions but also raise the political costs for their enforcers.

Another crucial lever for the system in this confrontation is domestic stability, which is the key to resisting external pressures.

It must be recognized that during sanctions, economic impacts disproportionately affect the lower-income strata of society, reducing resilience. The government must protect the most vulnerable through strong social safety nets, targeted subsidies, and inflation control, thereby preserving social cohesion.

Sanctions limit national resources. Therefore, the optimal use of these resources requires decisive action against corruption and improved economic governance. Transparency in managing national revenues increases public trust and economic efficiency.

Iran’s greatest asset is its educated, young, creative society committed to national sovereignty. Investment in education, research, and healthcare not only guarantees the country’s long-term resilience but also nurtures the next generation of leaders, inventors, and entrepreneurs who can turn challenges into opportunities.

With intelligent understanding, Resolution 1929 was not—and is not—an end, but rather a historical turning point and a step up. History has shown that Iran and Iranians possess an astonishing ability to adapt and overcome challenges.

The way out of this tight corner is neither surrender to pressure nor retreat into isolation, but rather the pursuit of an active and intelligent strategy built on three pillars:

1. a) Strengthening the foundations of the domestic economy,
2. b) Smart engagement with the world,
3. c) Preserving social cohesion.

With this outlook, Iran can not only overcome the pressure of sanctions but also build a more diversified, resilient, and advanced economy for the future. The path is not easy, but with national determination and the use of collective wisdom, it is certainly achievable. At the same time, one cannot overlook those responsible for these conditions, nor leave unchallenged the intrigue and conspiracy woven in hidden chambers of thought.

The enemy’s “fifth column” in any country acts as a driver aligned with the adversary, and naturally, intelligent confrontation, along with clarifying and enlightening public opinion about the future, will herald a more unified tomorrow and lasting cohesion.