'We just want to play': Iran gamers battle reality of U.S. sanctions

Tehran – Iran's millions-strong legion of gamers revel in online worlds, but they have to fight daily real-life obstacles imposed by U.S. sanctions in their quest to level up and keep playing. "It's a problem between governments and a pain for the consumer," said 24-year-old gamer and game journalist Amir Golkhani. "We have no political demands. We just want to play," he said. Sanctions reimposed in 2018 by former U.S. president Donald Trump do not directly target the gaming industry.