Responding to recent remarks by U.S. officials on tightening economic restrictions, isolating Iran and disrupting its financial links with the outside world, Madanizadeh said Iran's economy was far more resilient and diversified than such pressure strategies assumed.

“Iran’s economy is a vast network of people, businesses, entrepreneurs, producers, exporters, traders, farmers, engineers and millions of economic actors,” Madanizadeh said. He added that years of sanctions had compelled Iranian businesses to develop alternative channels for production, trade and financing.

Despite continuing economic pressures, he said, domestic production, exports, imports and commercial activity remained operational, while the country continued to secure essential goods for its population. Madanizadeh also pointed to 'the reluctance of many countries to fully align themselves with Washington’s sanctions policy, as well as Iran’s economic and diplomatic engagement with neighboring and like-minded states.'

The Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, stressing that the government does not deny the country’s economic difficulties, said: “The responsibility for reforming Iran’s economy lies with the Iranian government and people, not the U.S. Treasury Department. They speak of the collapse and suffocation of Iran’s economy, whereas we are talking about reforming the economic structure, increasing productivity, expanding trade and production, attracting investment, and broadening economic relations.”

Madanizadeh contrasted Washington’s stated objective of constricting Iran’s economy with the government’s focus on structural reform, productivity gains, trade expansion, domestic production, investment and economic integration.

He outlined a strategy centered on diversifying trading partners, expanding regional commerce, strengthening the private sector, reducing the budget’s reliance on oil revenues, increasing non-oil exports, improving trade corridors, reforming the banking system, attracting investment and containing inflation.

“We run Iran’s economy for the livelihood and prosperity of the Iranian people, not for Washington’s approval,” he said.

Madanizadeh acknowledged that sanctions could raise the costs of doing business and constrain access to international financial channels, but argued that economic hardship should not be equated with economic surrender.

“Iran has paid a heavy economic price in recent years, but it will never surrender,” he said, adding that Tehran’s response to external pressure would combine economic resilience with domestic economic reform.

The minister said the ultimate direction of Iran’s economy would be determined by its own population. “The Iranian people will build Iran’s economy, and the Iranian people will determine Iran’s future — with determination, planning and in pursuit of their own interests,” he said.

Madanizadeh concluded that while foreign powers could make Iran’s financial transactions more difficult, they could not eliminate the country’s determination to develop its economy.

“They can make our financial channels more difficult, but they cannot sanction a nation’s will to build its own economy,” he said, arguing that the same principle applied to economic confrontation as to military pressure.