Iran Sanctions
Abstract
The objective of sanctions to compel Iran to verifiably demonstrate that its nuclear program is for purely peaceful uses has not been achieved to date. However, the international coalition that is imposing progressively strict economic sanctions on Iran is broadening and deepening, with increasingly significant effect on Iran s economy. U.S. officials believe that these sanctions which are now targeting Iran s oil export lifeline might yet cause Iran to return to the nuclear bargaining table with greater seriousness and intent toward peaceful resolution. Many judge that Iran needs an easing of sanctions because the energy sector provides nearly 70% of Iran s government revenues. The Obama Administration s policy approach toward Iran has contrasted with the Bush Administration s by attempting to couple the imposition of sanctions with stepped-up U.S. participation in negotiations with Iran on the nuclear issue. However, with negotiations yielding no compromise, since early 2010 the Administration and Congress have focused on achieving adoption of and implementing additional U.S., U.N., and allied country sanctions whose cumulative effect could compel Iran to accept a nuclear bargain. U.N. and worldwide bilateral sanctions on Iran (the latest of which are imposed by Resolution 1929, adopted June 9, 2010) are a relatively recent (post-2006) development. U.S. sanctions, on the other hand, have been a major feature of U.S. Iran policy since Iran s 1979 Islamic revolution. Many of the U.S. sanctions overlap each other as well as the U.N. sanctions now in place, and national measures undertaken by European and some Asian countries. Some U.S. sanctions, particularly the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), caused differences of opinion between the United States and its European allies because it mandates U.S. imposition of sanctions on foreign firms. Successive Administrations have sought to ensure that U.S. sanctions do not hamper cooperation with key international partners
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 02, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA584298
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress