# The indicator "Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)"
The indicator **"Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)"** measures the **total amount of money a country pays annually to service its external debt**, including both **interest payments** and **principal repayments**.
The data are expressed in **current US dollars**, meaning they reflect the **actual value of debt service payments made each year**, **without adjusting for inflation**.
- The chart shows **Iran's total annual payments** towards servicing its external debt from **2000 to 2022**, covering a period of **23 years**.
- This indicator is **crucial** for assessing Iran's **debt burden** and its **capacity to manage external financial obligations over time**.