Central Bank Burns Through $800 Million Defending Rial

The Central Bank of Iran has spent an estimated $800 million in foreign exchange reserves over the past week attempting to defend the rial, which is approaching 1,400,000 per dollar. Traders report persistent sell pressure despite the intervention, driven by sanctions enforcement, capital flight, and the psychological impact of repeated record lows. Economists warn the reserve burn rate is unsustainable, as Iran's accessible reserves have been severely depleted by sanctions and the costs of the June war.