Iran-China Chamber chief says U.S. naval blockade costs outweigh war

In an interview with Iran’s Khabar Online, Majidreza Hariri, leader of the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce, said the economic impact of the U.S. naval blockade "far outweighs" that of the 40-day war earlier this year. He noted that the current shortages and crisis are more severe than during the conflict and that Iran must seek to end the blockade through negotiations, pressure or, if necessary, renewed hostilities.

Hariri warned that attempting to operate under the blockade could produce dangerous spillover effects, stating, "The worst thing that could happen today is believing that the naval blockade can be circumvented and attempting to govern the country despite its continuation."

He cited Iran’s long experience with Western sanctions, saying past methods to skirt them led to a weakened economy and corruption. According to Hariri, shipping a container from Iran to China now costs about $3,000, while land routes raise the expense to $12,000. With roughly two million containers moving through southern ports each year, he estimated the added transportation costs could reach $18 billion annually.

Hariri cautioned that reliance on land routes might sustain short-term needs but would eventually cause the economy to "grind to a halt." He added, "We must also eliminate the perception in the U.S. that it can resort to such an action whenever it wants, and make it understand that the consequences of such a move could be severe."

Iranian officials, including the deputy foreign minister, have called for sanctions relief, and reports indicate that the reimposed blockade is pushing the Iranian economy toward collapse. The U.S. administration views the blockade as a tool to pressure Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while oil shipments continue to flow despite Tehran’s claims of closure.