[61293] Growing fear of a slowdown in the global economy; Iran blames the West for undermining stability

Economic warnings and geopolitical tensions

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published a bleak forecast regarding the state of the global economy today, May 16, 2026. According to آخرین خبر and خبرگزاری ایرنا, Fund spokesperson Julie Kozack warned that the global economy is heading toward a "negative scenario." Kozack noted that in light of the continued fighting in the Middle East, one can no longer rely on optimistic forecasts, and that global economic growth could drop from 3.1% to 2.5% according to آخرین خبر.

At the same time, Iran is presenting a firm position that places the responsibility for the international crisis on the West. Iran's representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, claimed that "the responsibility for the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and its consequences lies with the initiators of the war and their partners," according to a report by خبرگزاری ایرنا.

According to Iravani, the instability in energy markets and global supply chains poses a threat to sustainable development and economic stability. It should be noted that خبرگزاری ایرنا is an Iranian state news agency representing Tehran's official narrative, which places the responsibility for regional and global crises on the United States and Israel.