Photos show how Iranian daily life suffers under Trump sanctions

TABRIZ, Iran — President Donald Trump has insisted that his crippling economic sanctions, ostensibly aimed toward the country’s leadership, will help protect and improve the lives of the Iranian people.

They’re not working.

Since November 2018 the US has imposed waves of “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran’s leadership — including its Supreme Leader and top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials — and has not achieved its goal of checking the regime’s nuclear program.

Instead, it’s the ordinary Iranians who are suffering from the economic pressure. Inflation is running high and citizens are finding their disposable income so squeezed they can’t afford to go to the cinema or buy carpets for their homes anymore.

All those who spoke to Insider said they haven’t seen any positive side to the sanctions, but that they are affecting every aspect of their daily lives.

Scroll down to see how US sanctions are impacting Iranians, from local skateboarders to carpet sellers to movie-goers: