“Intensifying Sanctions”, “the War of Attrition” & “Insistence on Old Policies” Push the Country toward Further Crises

Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid, while addressing the Friday prayer congregation in Zahedan on 11 September 2026, expressed deep regret over the economic and livelihood situation of the Iranian people. He described the tightening of sanctions and the prolonged war as factors contributing to the increase in these crises and difficulties, and strongly criticized the continuation of past policies as well as the authorities’ lack of attention to solving the people’s problems.

The Iranian people face severe challenges in managing daily life/ Many individuals have been driven to suicide due to economic and livelihood problems
According to a report of the official website of the Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid stated in part of his Friday sermon that the severe economic sanctions, which have been ongoing for nearly twenty years and have now intensified further, together with the prolonged war, are driving the country toward growing crises.
He observed that people witness daily increases in the price of the dollar and a sharp decline in the value of the national currency. Severe inflation and instability in the market have increased hoarding and inflicted heavy losses on businesses. The Iranian people face severe challenges in making ends meet. The responsible authorities are not fully aware of the people’s conditions in society. On many occasions, fathers, doctors, educated individuals, and people from various segments of society have resorted to suicide due to economic difficulties and dead ends.

Political deadlock is the root cause of the country’s crises. Why do the authorities not take any measures to solve the people’s problems?
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, Iran identified political deadlock as the main reason for the country’s problems and crises.
He explained that all the deadlocks and problems existing in the country are related to political deadlock. Time and again, out of goodwill and sympathy, warnings have been given and voices raised that the current policies are leading the country into a dead end, but unfortunately these warnings and calls have not been heeded.
He clarified that the country is now facing an even more serious deadlock, and unfortunately there is also no plan to emerge from this situation. Intellectuals and ordinary people see no bright future for this situation. The public and knowledgeable individuals are astonished at what kind of approach is being pursued in the country and why the authorities are not thinking of anything to solve the people’s difficulties. The authorities of the country and the government must first and foremost think about the Iranian nation, consult with the people, and solve the problems of the Iranian people. Continuation of this method will expose the country to the explosion of various crises.

Expansion of settlements in the West Bank is ethnic and religious cleansing/ The decision of European countries against this action is praiseworthy
In another part of his Friday sermon in Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid criticized the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank. He stated that the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the settling of Jews in this region is in fact a form of ethnic and religious cleansing, and it seriously endangers the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Welcoming the action taken by some European countries against the West Bank settlements, he noted that twelve European countries, including Britain, have decided to impose sanctions on the West Bank settlements, which is an extremely good, humanitarian step taken in defense of human rights.
The prominent religious scholar pointed out that unfortunately Islamic countries at the present time do not have the opportunity to defend the oppressed Palestinian people, because these countries have been entangled with one another, causing them to feel threatened by each other. This was the worst trap into which Muslims fell, and Israeli extremists are taking illegitimate advantage of this opportunity.

The establishment of an independent Palestinian state will have a positive impact on solving the problems of the Middle East and the world
Continuing his remarks, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid said that after the ceasefire in Gaza, the United States and Israel could have established an independent Palestinian state and transformed this long-standing dispute and conflict into peace, reconciliation, and calm, but the US, Israel, and in reality the entire Middle East missed this opportunity.
He added that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the granting of their rights to the Palestinians will today have a positive effect on solving the ongoing problems in the Middle East and the world, and will end many wars and conflicts.
Emphasizing this point, he stated that as long as the Palestinian issue is not resolved fairly, even if Israel turns all Palestinian lands into settlements, the cycle of war and conflicts will continue. As long as the Palestinian issue is not resolved and the oppressed are not given their rights, the claim of fighting terrorism is false. Fair observance of the rights of the disputing parties can end terrorism, insecurity, and conflicts and permanently resolve this issue.