Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: Economic War is the ‘Main Battlefield’ with US

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that economic confrontation, not military conflict, is now the primary front in its standoff with the United States. In a statement, the IRGC said Washington is using multilayered sanctions to achieve goals that go beyond financial pressure. The Guard described the US strategy as an attempt to “spread despair among the people, put pressure on living conditions, and weaken social trust” inside Iran. The remarks mark a rare, direct acknowledgment from the elite military force that the US is waging a deliberate campaign against Iranian society’s economic stability. The IRGC, which oversees Iran’s missile program and regional proxies, has often framed its rivalry with Washington in military terms. By shifting focus to the economy, the Guard appears to be signaling that its primary defensive role now includes countering sanctions as a form of warfare. The statement did not outline specific countermeasures, but analysts note that Tehran has previously responded by expanding non-oil trade and seeking closer ties with Russia and China. The US has maintained heavy sanctions on Iran since withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, targeting oil exports, banking, and shipping. Washington says the measures are meant to force Tehran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear program and regional activities. Iran’s economy has suffered from high inflation and currency devaluation, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of rising food and energy prices. The IRGC’s latest language suggests that Tehran views the economic struggle as a test of national endurance.