Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls to Ditch the Dollar as Sanctions Crush Trade

Iran’s president says international sanctions are now hitting the country’s imports and exports, as the supreme leader pushes for a move away from the U.S. dollar. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on the government to reduce its reliance on the American currency, urging officials to seek alternatives in foreign trade. The appeal comes as Iran’s trade volume drops under renewed U.S. sanctions, which have restricted Tehran’s access to global banking and shipping networks. President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the impact on Tuesday, stating that sanctions are directly damaging the flow of goods in and out of the country. Neither leader offered specific policy changes, but the comments signal a growing official focus on de-dollarization as a strategy to counter economic pressure. Iran has previously explored using other currencies, including the euro and the Chinese yuan, for bilateral trade deals.