Elected president in July 2024 on the promise to renew dialogue with Western countries and secure the lifting of sanctions crippling the Iranian economy, Masoud Pezeshkian appeared somber and defiant as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24. Accusing the United States and Israel of a “savage aggression” during the 12-day war waged by the two countries against Iran in June, he lambasted European nations and the international sanctions set to be reimposed on the Islamic Republic on September 28. He pledged “never to yield to the aggressors.”

A few hours before the presidential address in Tehran, Myriam (not her real name), a 40-year-old teacher, went to Ferdowsi Square in the center of the Iranian capital around midday. “There were police officers monitoring the area, but the crowd was much larger than usual. You could feel a lot of anxiety and agitation,” she said. “At that hour, gold and currency rates are usually set, but most of the shops had their signs turned off or weren’t displaying prices. Sometimes, one of the shopkeepers would say, ‘Due to fluctuations, ask for the price at the time of purchase.'”

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