Iran Update March 19, 2025
US President Donald Trump warned Iran against sending supplies to the Houthis on March 19.[22] Houthi Foreign Minister Jamal Amer told Iranian media that ”Iran does not interfere in our [Houthis] decision-making” and refuted reports from March 18 that Iran requested the Houthis to de-escalate tensions with the United States and Israel in the Red Sea.[23] The Houthis are aligned with Iran and Iran is almost certainly still supplying them with weapons, but the Houthis sometimes act without direct Iranian approval.[24]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-19-2025
Iran Update March 20, 2025
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei highlighted Iran’s economic weaknesses and problems in his Nowruz speech on March 20.[22] Khamenei announced “Investment for Production” as Iran’s new year’s slogan, which is consistent with Khamenei’s economic-focused new year’s slogans in recent years. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian separately emphasized the issues of inflation and rising costs in his Nowruz speech on March 20.[23]Khamenei’s recent rejection of nuclear negotiations with the United States, which would potentially provide Iran with sanctions relief, will likely contribute to worsening Iranian economic conditions. The Iranian regime will also likely not be able to meaningfully improve the Iranian economy if it does not address underlying issues, such as rampant corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement, that currently plague the economy.[24] The value of the Iranian rial has depreciated around 103 percent over the past two years, highlighting how Iranian officials have either lacked the capability or willingness to meaningfully address Iran’s economic problems.[25]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-20-2025