‘Feel like my life has been destroyed’

tehran — Many Iranians blame their own government for the return of US sanctions, but they also fear it could be the “final nail in the coffin” for the floundering economy.

Despite days of protests and strikes across the country, there appeared to be less unrest as sanctions returned on Tuesday — although that said little about the depth of despair, particularly among poorer sections of society.

“I feel like my life is being destroyed. The economic situation right now means that the working class must die,” said Ali Paphi, a construction worker.

“Sanctions are already badly affecting people’s lives. I can’t afford to buy food, pay the rent... No one cares about workers.”

Much of the damage was already done in the weeks preceding the return of sanctions.

That only added to deepseated problems of corruption, a chaotic banking system and rampant unemployment after decades of mismanagement.

“Prices have been increasing for three or four months and everything we need has become so expensive, even before sanctions returned,” said Yasaman, a 31-year-old photographer in Tehran. Like many in the capital, he believes Iran’s leaders will be forced to return to the negotiating table, as Trump hopes.

Most Iranians have tuned out the endless US hostility, with which they have lived for four decades, so their anger is mostly directed at their own leaders.

“Prices are rising again, but the reason is government corruption, not US sanctions,” said Ali, a 35-year-old decorator. —