Sanctions didn't break Iran. They hardened it

Sanctions didn't break Iran. They hardened it Submitted by Mahyar Ramezankhani on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 20:00 Tehran was denied a decade of growth, and given in exchange a tolerance for punishment that few open economies possess Iranian banknotes - households are paying the price (Atta Kenare/AFP) On The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for most of the past six months. Brent crude is trading just below $90 a barrel, and rose about five percent in a single session earlier this month.