Hundreds of trucks are stranded along the road into Iran from Turkey’s mountainous eastern border as the U.S. navy blockades its ports. Bustling even in normal times, the countries' largest crossing is now a make-or-break economic lifeline for Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has pressed to accelerate overland trade as the blockade limits the vast majority of imports while cutting off the oil and gas sales that largely keep the economy alive. It's the latest test of Iran's endurance. Frustrated truck drivers spoke to The Associated Press at the Turkey border crossing, where lines now stretch for miles. “Our job has become very difficult,” said Muhammed Riza Shiri, 55, who had waited four days to carry his load of rubber into Iran.
“We have to wait for too long. I now make one trip every 40 days, two months. All my family waits for me to earn so they can eat,” he said.
Iran accused the U.S. of trying to weaken the country. Tehran insisted the pressure will not change its stance in negotiations with Washington.
Source: Kanal13
