Pezeshkian says US blockade aims to spark protests in Iran

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that the US blockade is the most intense Iran has faced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, accusing Washington of seeking to provoke public protests. He made the remarks in a speech broadcast by state television.

Why does Pezeshkian say the US blockade aims to spark protests?

Pezeshkian said the United States is focusing its efforts on making Iranians upset and face difficulties, so that social protests emerge. He said Washington wants to make life hard for Iranians, fuel public anger and trigger unrest to achieve what he called its "sinister objectives."

"Over the 48 years since the Revolution, we have never faced such intense blockade, war and difficulties as we are facing now," Pezeshkian said. He said the US was working to make "the people become upset and face difficulties, and then for social protests to emerge so that they can achieve their sinister objectives".

What is the US blockade of Iran and how did it start?

The US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The blockade diverts or stops vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.

Iran and the United States have been at war since February 28, when US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Has Iran blamed the US and Israel for unrest before?

Iran has repeatedly accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest inside the country. In recent months, it has executed several Iranians accused of collaborating with its foes.

In late December last year, protests over the cost of living erupted in Iran. They spread nationwide and evolved into a wider anti-government movement, and Iran's rulers blamed the US and Israel for the unrest.