Nazrana Times International Desk: A prolonged confrontation with Washington could gradually weaken Iran’s economy and impoverish its people even without a sudden collapse, Iranian economist Mohammad Tabibian has warned.

In an interview with Shargh newspaper published Monday, Tabibian, a former deputy director of Iran’s Planning and Budget Organization, questioned the strategy of measuring success through the country’s ability to endure economic suffering.

His warning came as Washington appeared intent on maintaining economic pressure without resuming major combat operations, according to the supplied Iran International report.

President Donald Trump said Monday that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other regional countries favoured maintaining the “status quo.” He described this as continuing the US naval blockade and Operation Iron Gate, a new US task force aimed at restricting Iran’s overland trade.

Tabibian cautioned that Iran’s ability to adapt to sustained pressure did not mean the economic damage had stopped.

Source: Supplied excerpt from Iran International.