Weary from long years of biting sanctions and worried about U.S. threats of military action, Iranians have responded to the prospect of talks this As the prospect of U.S.-Iran talks looms, Iranians have responded with cautious optimism, hoping for a breakthrough that could ease years of economic strain and geopolitical tension. With years of biting sanctions and growing concerns over military action, many Iranians are now looking toward the upcoming talks scheduled for this weekend in Oman, where the long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed.
Despite President Donald Trump’s threats of military action if no deal is reached, some Iranians are cautiously hopeful. The mere possibility of a deal has seen a slight strengthening of Iran’s rial currency, which had reached a record low of 1,050,000 to the dollar. By Wednesday, the rial had strengthened slightly to 999,000 to the dollar. Tehran’s stock market also rose by 2.16% on Tuesday, the best performance since January, as investors moved from safe havens like gold and foreign currency to domestic shares.
Many ordinary Iranians, however, remain skeptical. Although the country has faced strained relations with Western powers since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the situation escalated in 2003 with a dispute over Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Amir Hamidian, a retired government employee in Tehran, expressed frustration, stating, “For years, we have suffered over this dispute. It is time to end this standoff. We want to live a normal life with no hostilities and particularly no economic pressure.”
Amid these tensions, some Iranians, like Minou, a 32-year-old housewife from Isfahan, are pessimistic about the talks. “There will be no deal. There is a huge gap between the sides. Trump is going to bomb us. What should we do? Where should we go?” she said. Minou even withdrew all her savings from the bank, fearing a potential attack by the U.S. or Israel.
Despite the government’s tough rhetoric, the clerical establishment in Iran is under pressure to reach a deal due to fears of widespread protests and anger over the deteriorating economy. Economists believe that sanctions relief could lower import costs and boost export prices for Iranian firms. However, investors remain cautious, sticking to short-term bets amid uncertainty over the outcome of the upcoming talks.
Mahsa, a 22-year-old university student in northern Iran, shared her frustration: “I am worried to death. Enough is enough. Just reach a deal and end our misery.”
In contrast, some hardliners still place their trust in Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, believing he will lead the country through these tough times. Mohammad Amin Hosseini, a 27-year-old from Mashhad, expressed his confidence: “Our Supreme Leader is fully aware of the situation and he will lead us out of trouble. Whatever he decides, we will support it.”
With high stakes in the talks, Iranians are bracing for either hope or disappointment, aware that their economic future may hang in the balance.
