2. Reasons
for
sanctions
In 2012, the
U.S.
Department
of State
stated:
• In response to Iran’s continued illicit
nuclear activities, the United States and
other countries have imposed
unprecedented sanctions to censure Iran
and prevent its further progress in
prohibited nuclear activities, as well as to
persuade Tehran to address the
international community’s concerns about
its nuclear program.
The website of
the U.K.
government
states:
• On 16 October 2012, the EU adopted a further
set of restrictive measures against Iran as
announced in Council Decision 2012/635/CFSP.
These measures are targeted at Iran’s nuclear
and ballistic programmes and the revenues
made from these programmes by the Iranian
government.
• In response to the deteriorating human rights
situation in Iran, the EU has also adopted
Council Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 of 12
April 2011.
The BBC, in
answering
"Why are there
sanctions?"
wrote in 2015:
•Since Iran's nuclear programme became public in
2002, the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) has been unable to confirm Tehran's
assertions that its nuclear activities are exclusively
for peaceful purposes and that it has not sought to
develop nuclear weapons....
•The United Nations Security Council has adopted
six resolutions since 2006 requiring Iran to stop
enriching uranium - which can be used for civilian
purposes, but also to build nuclear bombs - and co-
operate with the IAEA.
3. Sanctions of 1979
•The first sanctions were imposed by the United
States in November 1979 after a group of radical
students seized the American Embassy in Tehran
and took hostages. These sanctions were lifted in
January 1981 after the hostages were released.
US sanctions 1984
• Sanctions prohibited weapon sales and all
U.S. assistance to Iran
Sanctions of 1995
• In response to the Iranian nuclear program
and Iranian support of terrorist organizations
The Iran and Libya Sanctions
Act, 1996
February 2004
•Freezing the assets of individuals connected with
Iran's nuclear program, ban on editing or
publishing scientific manuscripts from Iran
2006-2008 Banking sanctions
Obama presidency
•rescission of the authorization for Iranian-origin
imports for articles such as rugs, pistachios, and
caviar; toughened sanctions; financial sanctions
July 2015
•US agreed to cancel most US sanctions against
Iran, with some safeguard provisions, in return
for limitations on Iran's nuclear program
May 2018
•Withdraw from Iran nuclear deal; sanctions on on
countries trading with Iran; financial assets of the
Supreme leader's inner circle
September 2020
sanctions on Iranian defence officials, nuclear
scientists, the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran
and anyone who engaged in conventional
arms deals with Iran; 18 Iranian banks
US sanctions
4. UN sanctions
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 1696
•Demanded
that Iran
suspend all
enrichment-
related and
reprocessing
activities and
threatened
sanctions
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 1737
•imposed
sanctions
banning the
supply of
nuclear-related
materials and
technology,
and froze the
assets of key
individuals and
companies
related to the
program.
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 1835
•Imposed an
arms embargo
and expanded
the freeze on
Iranian assets.
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 1929
•Banned Iran from
participating in any
activities related to
ballistic missiles,
tightened the arms
embargo, travel bans
on individuals
involved with the
program, froze the
funds and assets of
the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard
and Islamic Republic
of Iran Shipping Lines
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 1984
•extended the
mandate of the
panel of
experts that
supports the
Iran Sanctions
Committee for
one year
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 2049
•Renewed the
mandate of the
Iran Sanctions
Committee's
Panel of
Experts for 13
months.
United Nations
Security Council
Resolution 2231
•Sets out a
schedule for
suspending
and eventually
lifting UN
sanctions, with
provisions to
reimpose UN
sanctions in
case of non-
performance
by Iran
5. The European Union has imposed restrictions on cooperation
with Iran in foreign trade, financial services, energy sectors
and technologies, and banned the provision of insurance and
reinsurance by insurers in member states to Iran and Iranian-
owned companies. On 23 January 2012, the EU agreed to an
oil embargo on Iran, effective from July, and to freeze the
assets of Iran's central bank.
Australia has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on
individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear and missile
programs or assist Iran in violating sanctions, and an arms
embargo
Canada imposed a ban on dealing in the property of
designated Iranian nationals, a complete arms embargo, oil-
refining equipment, items that could contribute to the Iranian
nuclear program, the establishment of an Iranian financial
institution, branch, subsidiary, or office in Canada or a
Canadian one in Iran
India enacted a ban on the export of all items, materials,
equipment, goods, and technology that could contribute to
Iran's nuclear program.
Israel banned business with or unauthorized travel to Iran
under a law banning ties with enemy states
Japan imposed a ban on transactions with some Iranian banks,
investments with the Iranian energy sector, and asset freezes
against individuals and entities involved with Iran's nuclear
program.
South Korea imposed sanctions on 126 Iranian individuals and
companies
Switzerland banned the sale of arms and dual-use items to
Iran, and of products that could be used in the Iranian oil and
gas sector, financing this sector, and restrictions on financial
services
6. Effects
• Political effects
• Economic effects
• Effect on oil price
• Impact on regional economies
• Humanitarian impact
• Civil movement against
sanctions
• Frozen assets
7.
8.
9. Sanctions
imposed by
Iran
• Iran does not have significant geopolitical weight to impose economic and political
sanctions against Western countries, so most of the steps taken are demonstrative
and symbolic.
• In 2008 the Islamic Republic announced a ban on imports of 75 so-called luxury
products — ranging from high-end cars to coffee to toilet paper — part of efforts to
promote domestic products and stem the outflow of dollars and other foreign
currency as Western economic pressures increasingly choke off Iran’s commerce and
critical oil revenue.
• In 2018, as a response to US visa restrictions for those who have visited Iran after
2011, Iran ceased affixing visas in passports and stamping passports on entry of
foreigners from most countries
• In 2020-2021 Iran imposed sanctions on Trump, Pompeo and other US officials.
Tehran accused them of supporting terrorism, complicity in the assassination of
General Suleimani and nuclear engineer Fakhrizadeh and violations of international
law. The President himself, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Chief Steve
Mnuchin, ex-Pentagon chief Mark Esper, Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller
and CIA chief Gina Haspel were included in the sanctions list.
• In 2021 Iran banned importation of Covid vaccines from the US and UK
• Iran has absolutely no ties with Israel
• Most often, the Iranian authorities accuse Western countries of violations of
international law, preventing Iran from reaching a prominent civilizational status
