The futility of the United States sanctions on Iran

Iran is a country located in the Middle East that has abundant oil and gas resources. Throughout history, the Iranian people have always wanted their cultural and economic independence.

The futility of the United States sanctions on Iran refers to the US government's efforts to impose sanctions on the Iranian government and the losses done to the Iranian people as a result of these actions. Studies show that these measures not only did not resolve the misunderstandings between the Iranian and American governments, but also had side effects that damaged the areas that were not intended at all.

Intrinsic motivation

Sanctions are a tool through which countries and organizations in the international or regional arena intend to influence the behavior of other governments. Any country that prevents the spread of US politicians views and laws internationally, will be sanctioned. US sanctions are a tool that has plagued the people because of the policies of politicians in the sanctioned countries. Examining the performance of politicians in sanctioned countries shows that their decisions are not aimed at reducing the pressure of sanctions on ordinary people. Politicians are addicted to their policies and it is difficult for them to change.

Power really brings corruption. Scientific research shows that the position of officials affects their brain and changes it. For many politicians, power turns into a drug that is very difficult to quit. No matter in which direction they go, politicians can never admit their mistakes. But ordinary people directly feel the pain of politicians' decisions. The insane behavior of politicians can not be explained by their personal characteristics alone. Many of these behaviors are the product of an imbalance in brain function due to a condition of excessive power. Studies show that under the influence of a position of power, peoples become more subject to instantaneous desires, less aware of the risks and, most importantly, become unable to see things through the eyes of others. At the influence of a position of power, people "stop simulating the experience of others," which leads to "lack of empathy." Research shows that many leaders go so far as to enter the realm of harmful stupidity: they have used the same repetitive method to maintain their "powerful identity", but they expect a new result. Like an addict who continues to use but expects to recover. According to studies, the features of arrogance arising from power is: explicit disrespect for others, loss of connection with reality, thoughtless or hasty actions, and display of inadequacy.

People in the position of power, are often unaware of the advice of others, do not see the impact of their decisions on the lives of others, are overconfident, usually indifferent to the suffering of others, and tend to see others as a means to their own satisfaction. Research shows that these conditions are contagious and sometimes involve the entire system of a political regime. In the end, ordinary people pay the price.

Resistance of the Iranian government to US sanctions

Iran and eastern United States size comparison by the CIA, 2009.

In the case of imposing sanctions on Iran, the United States had three strategic goals, none of which were successful. The first goal was to curb the nuclear program and prevent its progress. The Iranian government has repeatedly acknowledged in the international community that their nuclear program is not for weapons production but for energy and its related technology. Despite all allegations and rhetoric against Iran's peaceful nuclear program, the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence, in its "Annual Threat Assessment" report for 2022, acknowledged that: according to Washington estimates, Tehran is not engaged in nuclear weapons activities. Also in an annual report (April 2022) entitled "Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments," the United States Department of State made claims about Iran's nuclear program and its interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency and stated that Iran is not currently engaged in the design and production of nuclear weapons. So Iran has made significant progress on its nuclear program over the past decade under the supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency, despite sanctions.

The second goal of the United States in imposing sanctions was to curb Iran's missile and military program, which also did not materialize. Today, the range, power and quality of targeting of missiles produced by Iran has increased compared to the past. It is natural that the more a country is threatened, the more its defense capabilities increase.

The third goal of the United States in imposing sanctions was to prevent the expansion of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) influence in the Middle East region, but in the end, Washington's goals in this regard were not achieved. Whether the United States wants it or not, the IRGC forces are far more powerful and influential in the region today. The IRGC is known for curbing American colonialism in the Middle East, which became more serious as sanctions increased, to the point that the United States called it a terrorist organization. The IRGC is a people's governmental military institution that has defended Iran from invasions since the Iranian Revolution of 1979 (especially in the Iran–Iraq War in which the United States was one of the Iraq alliances) and has not carried out any offensive attacks anywhere. It may not have been fair to call the IRGC a terrorist institution, but Israel has always insisted on it. Some believe that US terrorist designations are a political tool that the government is willing to trade whenever it is in its political interest.

How much it cost people

Of course, the continuation of the peaceful nuclear program, increasing the missile capability and expanding the IRGC's influence in the region during the sanctions period has cost the Iranian people dearly. To achieve these goals, the quality of life of the Iranian people has decreased. Sanctions and the resulting economic pressure and the Iranian government's insistence on achieving these goals have led to a reduction in the overall quality of life of the Iranian people, including increasing social problems, rising inflation, rising commodity prices, factory closures, unemployment, declining purchasing power, declining the quality of health care facilities, the decrease in the feeling of happiness and the decrease in the feeling of life satisfaction. Also, the turmoil in the foreign exchange and gold markets, rising prices of housing, cars and imported goods, the crisis of pension funds, disruption of banking communications, disruption of domestic industries, disruption of food and carpet exports, disruption of the tourism industry, disruption of the aviation industry, disruption of the shipping industry and disruption in the insurance industry, these are all the effects of sanctions that directly harm the Iranian people.

Crisis in the middle class of society

US President Donald J. Trump signs an Executive Order to place further sanctions on Iran, the Oval Office of the White House, June 24, 2019.

Following the hostile policies of the United States and the imposition of sanctions, the middle class of society in Iran became miserable and now more than a third of the country's population is living below the poverty line. The crisis of the basis of life and the psychological and mental condition of the middle class of Iran society in the recent period is directly related to the deep economic crisis caused by sanctions. The US sanctions expose Iran's middle class to economic pressure and fluctuations in welfare and living standards, causing dissatisfaction in this class as well as disrupting the process of manipulating Iran's class structure. The middle-class youth of Iran have been greatly damnified in this process. The damage done to the working class youth and the working class of Iran itself during the sanctions is irreparable. From 2018 to 2021, the most changes have occurred in the economic and living conditions of the middle class in Iran. During this period, the price of foreign currencies has increased sevenfold and the Iranian rial has lost more than 85% of its value. As a result of the changes of this period, the middle class is becoming thinner or "disappearing" and "the disappearance of the middle class is transforming society." As this trend continues, members of the middle class fall into the lower three deciles of society, "creating a social divide that threatens the future of economic and political development, capacity and national security." A large part of Iranian society is the middle class, whose decreasing incomes of its members are not commensurate with the sharp increase in expenses. The economic situation of the middle class in Iran in 2019 has returned to the level of 2002, "that means it has regressed about 17 years."

With the destruction of the middle class of a society, the democratic and cultural values of a country are also destroyed. When the middle class is eliminated, society is divided into two classes: the upper class minority and the lower class majority, in this case, the possibility of civil war greatly increases. The economic pressure of sanctions on the government and the consequent increase in taxes on the people is accelerating this process.

US losses due to sanctions

The United States' recourse to unilateral sanctions against other countries has led to its discrediting, reduced deposits, and made other countries cautious about interacting with the United States. The US dollar is no longer popular in the international trading. US sanctions, while failing to force governments to change their foreign policy, disrupt the world financial system and the energy market, and reduces the welfare of Americans. US sanctions have left ordinary citizens with the full consequences of rising prices. US sanctions have pushed up the price of gasoline for Americans.

United States by imposing sanctions, in addition to displeasing its allies, has jeopardized the security of energy market. United States has losing lucrative markets and related investment in the sanctioned countries. Trade sanctions have barred the United States from trading with some countries and have resulted negative rate for US exports. The cost of US sanctions against 26 countries in the world in the form of reduced exports in 1995 was about 15-19 billion dollars and the cost of these sanctions in 1999 was about 20 billion dollars. Reducing exports by $ 15-19 billion in 1995, or $ 20 billion in 1999, means losing at least 200,000 jobs in the high-income export sector, which means at least $ 1 billion in wage cuts. These costs are imposed on a portion of the economy and corporations that engage in international trade and investment and are in fact the most complex and competitive segment of the US economy. Sanctioned countries will avoid buying from US suppliers even if the sanctions are lifted, so US companies will lose their competitive advantage in the world markets. Therefore, applicants will try as much as possible to obtain their needs from suppliers whose supply of goods and services will not be restricted by political rules and as a political tool.

Regarding sanctions against Iran, the United States has faced a number of problems with its European allies, as these countries have important strategic and economic interests in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. Another direct US economic cost of imposing sanctions on Iran is the lack of trade and investment in Iran. The most significant loss due to the boycott of oil investment in Iran is the loss due to non-purchase of Iranian oil and, also the reduction of US exports to Iran. During the years 1987 to 1998, US exports to the three countries of Iran, Libya and Iraq, in total, decreased by more than $ 21 billion. US insistence on sanctions has violated some WTO rules, which has displeased US allies and discredited the United States in the global trade market.

See also

• Sanctions against Iran
• United States sanctions against Iran
• Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996
• Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2006
• Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act of 2007 (never passed)
• Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010
• United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning the nuclear program of Iran
• Anti-Iranian sentiment
• Foreign direct investment in Iran
• Iran and weapons of mass destruction
• The Act to confronting the hostile actions of the Zionist regime against peace and security

External links

• The Futility Of Imposing Economic Sanctions On Iran
• Iran's Economy and the US Sanctions
• U.S. reluctance to lift sanctions main hurdle to reviving 2015 pact, Iran official says

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