• العربية
  • فارسی
Brand
  • Iran Insight
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Analysis
  • Special Report
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Iran Insight
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Analysis
  • Special Report
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Theme
  • Language
    • العربية
    • فارسی
  • Iran Insight
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Analysis
  • Special Report
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
All rights reserved for Volant Media UK Limited
volant media logo

'US foot soldiers inside the country' behind price hikes, Iranian cleric says

May 8, 2026, 13:33 GMT+1

Iranian cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda said rising prices in Iran were helping achieve the same objectives the country’s enemies sought through bombing attacks during the recent war.

“What the enemy wanted to create through bombardment, some people now want to create through profiteering,” Alamolhoda said, adding that rising prices were making people dissatisfied and that those responsible were “US foot soldiers inside the country.”

He accused unnamed actors of raising prices for dairy products, cars, petrochemicals and steel.

Most Viewed

Iranians vent frustration as Trump revives talk of Tehran deal
1
VOICES FROM IRAN

Iranians vent frustration as Trump revives talk of Tehran deal

2

Iranian threat in Germany more urgent than publicly announced - NYT

3
INSIGHT

Hope and hostility collide in Tehran over possible deal with US

4
VOICES FROM IRAN

Internet shutdown pushes Iranians onto distrusted domestic apps

5

Wage crisis hits 27,000 workers as Iran's top steel plant remains crippled

Banner
Banner

Spotlight

  • Iran runs dry as Islamic Republic funds ideology and foreign proxies
    ANALYSIS

    Iran runs dry as Islamic Republic funds ideology and foreign proxies

  • Ghalibaf pushes for the role many thought he already had
    INSIGHT

    Ghalibaf pushes for the role many thought he already had

  • Internet shutdown pushes Iranians onto distrusted domestic apps
    VOICES FROM IRAN

    Internet shutdown pushes Iranians onto distrusted domestic apps

  • Iranians vent frustration as Trump revives talk of Tehran deal
    VOICES FROM IRAN

    Iranians vent frustration as Trump revives talk of Tehran deal

  • Hope and hostility collide in Tehran over possible deal with US
    INSIGHT

    Hope and hostility collide in Tehran over possible deal with US

  • How to beat Iran’s internet kill switch
    OPINION

    How to beat Iran’s internet kill switch

•
•
•

More Stories

US says world cannot 'normalize' Iran controlling Hormuz

May 8, 2026, 13:16 GMT+1

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the international community could not accept Iran asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, warning it would set a dangerous global precedent.

“Iran now claims that they have a right to control an international waterway,” Rubio said. “The world is going to have to decide whether it is prepared to normalize that.”

Rubio said the United States was pursuing a diplomatic solution and working on a UN Security Council resolution aimed at preventing Iran from controlling or mining the strait.

“If the answer is no, we don’t want to normalize it, then you better have something more than just strongly worded statements to back it up,” he said.

Rubio also said humanitarian aid remained trapped inside the Persian Gulf because of the situation around the waterway.

US will 'blow up' threats against Navy ships, Rubio says

May 8, 2026, 13:13 GMT+1

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the United States would respond forcefully to any Iranian attacks on US naval vessels, warning that forces threatening American ships would be “blown up.”

“If they threaten Americans, they’re going to get blown up,” Rubio said when discussing recent clashes between US and Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio said the US response to Iranian fire on American destroyers was separate from “Operation Epic Fury,” which he described as an offensive campaign targeting Iran’s missile launchers, navy, air force and military factories.

“If you fire on a US Navy ship, what are we supposed to do?” Rubio said. “Of course we fired back at them.”

He also warned Iranian fast-boat units against approaching US naval vessels, saying: “We’re going to blow those boats up if they’re coming towards our boats.”

Rubio says US expects Iran response on proposal on Friday

May 8, 2026, 13:06 GMT+1

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington expected to receive Iran’s response to a US proposal later in the day.

“We should get Iran response today,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Italy.

Rubio said the United States had not yet received Tehran’s reply, adding: “I hope it’s a serious offer” and “hope that it puts us in a process of serious negotiation.”

“We will not negotiate with Hezbollah. We are focused on the Lebanese government,” Rubio said when asked about tensions involving Israel, Lebanon and Iran.

US says forces blocking more than 70 tankers from Iranian ports

May 8, 2026, 13:03 GMT+1

US Central Command said on Friday that American forces were preventing more than 70 tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports as part of efforts to restrict Tehran’s oil exports.

“There are currently more than 70 tankers that US forces are preventing from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said on X.

The command said the vessels had the capacity to transport more than 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth more than $13 billion.

US helped intercept Iranian missile and drone attacks, Iranian Kurdish group says

May 8, 2026, 12:49 GMT+1

US and allied forces helped intercept Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Erbil, sources familiar with the matter told Iran International on Friday.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan said its positions were targeted several times overnight and on Friday morning.

Sources from the group told Iran International that “US forces and allies are supporting Iranian Kurdish parties by intercepting and shooting down some of these missiles and drones.”

Attacks on three Iranian Kurdish opposition groups over the past 24 hours had exceeded 15 strikes after another attack was confirmed against the Kurdistan Freedom Party.