Iran\u2019s economy has been crippled by sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries over alleged efforts by the Islamic Republic to build a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
\t Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.<\/p>\n The country\u2019s economy has come under further strain since a 12-day war in June, during which the United States briefly joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel started the war citing Iran\u2019s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, saying they posed an imminent, existential threat to the Jewish state.<\/p>\n The war followed two months of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that failed to produce a diplomatic breakthrough.<\/p>\n Iran has more than 2.4 million civilian government employees, according to the Public Administration and Recruitment Organization.<\/p>\n The figure excludes \u201cmilitary and law enforcement personnel or staff at the ministries of intelligence, defense and armed forces logistics, among others.\u201d<\/p>\n Pezeshkian said the state\u2019s budget deficit was worsening the economic strain and urged officials to cut unnecessary spending to ease the financial pressure on citizens.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visiting the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, in Tehran, November 2, 2025. (Handout \/ Iranian Atomic Organization (IAEO) \/ AFP)<\/p>\n
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