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Iranians across Tehran are increasingly stockpiling essential goods, including food and medicine, amid rising anxiety that the country could soon face severe shortages as the United States intensifies its economic and military pressure campaign. The mood on the capital's streets reflects a growing sense of precariousness, with shoppers filling trolleys with staples such as rice, flour, pasta, pulses, cooking oil, and canned items in anticipation of potential disruptions to supply chains.
The Iranian government had initially managed to maintain the flow of household necessities during the early months of the conflict. However, the combination of a U.S. naval blockade and a pivot toward draconian sanctions has fueled fears that imports will be sharply curtailed. The war, now entering its eighth month, shows no signs of a diplomatic resolution, and hopes for a negotiated settlement are fading.
The situation has been exacerbated by recent U.S. measures, including a ban on Iranian airlines operating worldwide, as well as Washington's efforts to press other nations to sever trade ties with Tehran. These actions are part of a broader strategy to isolate Iran economically and politically. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Washington's blockade, warning that it would prevent food and medicine from reaching the Iranian people.
On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian offer for a seven-day truce that would have involved reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for economic relief and other conditions. The rejection has further dimmed prospects for de-escalation, leaving ordinary Iranians to grapple with the consequences of a prolonged standoff.
In Tehran's shopping centers, the atmosphere is tense. Ali, a 51-year-old shopper, was seen loading his trolley with bulk supplies. He explained that he believes Iran's adversary is seeking to "starve" the population to provoke discontent and turn people against their government. "This is not a war in the traditional sense. It targets the people to put pressure on the authorities," he said. His sentiment reflects a widespread belief that the economic squeeze is deliberately aimed at civilians.
Store shelves in the capital remain stocked for now, but shoppers are closely monitoring inventories. Anxiety has deepened following a wave of social media posts urging people to secure several days' worth of food ahead of a possible new round of fighting. The psychological impact of these warnings is palpable, driving even those who might not otherwise hoard to buy in bulk.
Haj Pasandideh, a 71-year-old grocer, noted that warehouses currently hold adequate supplies of basic goods. However, he pointed to the daily price increases caused by the weakening rial as a major concern. To cope, he has begun bulk-buying goods before expected hikes. He sometimes rations cooking oil to one bottle per customer to ensure as many people as possible can purchase it. His experience underscores how currency depreciation is compounding the effects of the blockade.
The embargo is also crushing exporters, particularly farmers who are unable to ship their produce abroad and are forced to sell exclusively in local markets. The war has worsened an economic situation already battered by years of sanctions, which had transformed Iran from a regional exporter of agricultural and food products into one of the region's main importers. This reversal has left the country highly vulnerable to external shocks.
Mehran, an apple grower, told Al Jazeera that due to export difficulties, he has sold only a third of this year's harvest, all within Iran. Some neighboring countries have halted trade with Iran in recent months, he said, while trucks now spend days at border crossings that once cleared in a day. The delays cause fruit to spoil before reaching buyers. "The blockade has not only closed the sea and air but also the land routes but in an undeclared manner," he said, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the economic siege.
The pharmaceutical sector is also reeling. The war has deepened an already dire shortage of medications. In southern Tehran, pharmacies visited by Al Jazeera had run out of infant formula and dozens of other types of medicines. Although officials have assured Iranians that substitute products are available, pharmacy staff expressed concern about the increasing number of customers searching for infant formula in vain. Mahsa, a 23-year-old pharmacy assistant, said imported medicines are disappearing fast, and people have been coming in to buy certain items before they need them for fear they will run out in the future. Health authorities have introduced "smart systems" to track the quantity and type of medication each person buys, a move that reflects the severity of the shortages.
The prospect of a prolonged siege and deteriorating economic conditions have driven some Iranians to call for a military solution. On Tehran's main thoroughfare, several people told Al Jazeera that another round of fighting with the U.S. was unavoidable. Some urged the government to break the blockade by force before it is tightened further. Mohsen, a 23-year-old economics student, believes Washington's goal is to strangle the Iranian economy, and the cost will ultimately be borne by Iranian citizens. He argued that Iran possesses many strong cards that it must use to break the air and sea blockade before it develops into a land blockade that would completely choke Tehran.
Alireza Taghavinia, an Iranian international relations expert, told Al Jazeera that the gap between Washington and Tehran is too wide to be bridged. "The siege imposed by force will only" worsen conditions, he warned, suggesting that diplomatic avenues are effectively exhausted. His assessment underscores the bleak outlook for a peaceful resolution.
As the war enters its eighth month, the combination of military pressure, economic sanctions, and diplomatic stalemate has created a climate of fear and uncertainty. Iranians are bracing for what many believe will be a protracted and painful period. The stockpiling of food and medicine is not merely a practical response to potential shortages but also a symbol of the broader psychological toll of a conflict that shows no sign of abating. With the U.S. rejecting truce offers and pressing forward with its isolation campaign, the humanitarian implications for ordinary Iranians continue to mount.
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