Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Who Do US Sanctions Cripple? Not Iran's Regime Leaders.
Jamie_Ouverson_square-300x300-1
By Jamie Ouverson, Creative Producer
Published 7 years ago on
August 22, 2018

Share

I have to admit that imposing sanctions on a country recognized as a bad actor in regional or international affairs is appealing.
Let’s punish the bastards and make them change their evil ways!

GV Wire's Jamie Ouverson
Opinion
Jamie Ouverson
But have you thought about who really gets hurt? And if sanctions actually work?
Let’s use Iran as an example because President Donald Trump re-imposed U.S. sanctions on the Middle East country Aug. 7.

The Iran regime vs. the Iranian people

Sanctions cause instability in a country’s economy (as I broke down in my last video).
Iran’s regime consists of the unelected Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, the Guardian Council, and the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“During imposed sanctions, the rulers of the country will be the last ones to feel the pain of sanctions.”Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council
Did you know that Iran’s regime owns 60 percent of the economy through state-controlled enterprises?
Their enterprises aren’t feeling the same economic pressures that are squeezing the other 40 percent of businesses in Iran.
Islamic scholar Hamid Entezam tells GV Wire: “The Clerical Regime in Iran has lived in relative isolation since its inception. Isolation is a two-sided phenomenon; it deprives a nation from outside assistance or interference. Therefore, the outside world has limited influence to alter the regime’s behavior.”
During sanctions, the regime restricts subsidies on food staples, electricity, water and gas to preserve resources. Thus those inside the regime still benefit while many Iranian citizens can barely afford meat among other necessities.
During the 2012 Iranian sanctions, for example, the price of chicken increased 30 percent and the price of vegetables went up 100 percent.
During Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq, comparable sanctions were imposed on Iraq and the effects were similar.
Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council in Washington, D.C., famously used this analogy: “The last chicken sandwich in Iraq would always be eaten by Saddam Hussein himself. During imposed sanctions, the rulers of the country will be the last ones to feel the pain of sanctions.”
During the 2012 Iran sanctions, unemployment increased to 35% because of layoffs stemming from the inability to import necessary goods and raw materials.
But most in the regime kept their jobs and had no problem putting food on the table. The regime funneled economic resources to its base of support.
Photo of people walking in downtown Tehran, Iran.
People make their way on a sidewalk in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 30, 2018. Iran’s currency dropped to a record low ahead of the imposition of renewed American sanctions, with many fearing prolonged economic suffering or possible civil unrest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

How Sanctions Affect Currency

The Iranian rial value fell and decimated the life savings of many Iranians.
The sanctions also obstructed the transfer of money to foreign banks. With the depreciation of the rial, a high demand for the U.S. dollar resulted. This was due to the need to pay for foreign expenses and to protect the value of Iranian savings before the rial became completely worthless.
The regime’s reaction to the increased demand for the dollar was to order the Iranian Central Bank to impose a limit on the supply of foreign currency to individuals. This eventually led to banning any Iranian from trading rials for dollars and ultimately created a regime influenced black-market foreign currency exchange that was almost twice the price of the official rate.
However, the regime still had access to trade the rial at the official rate and pocketed the profits from the black market while sending many Iranians into destitution.

How to Effectively Deal With Rogue Nations

Sanctions that are imposed on a country are an injustice to the people who have little to no influence on the regime’s bad behavior. The citizens bear the brunt of the sanctions while the country’s regime (whose behavior caused the imposed sanctions) moves forward with few, if any, penalties.
Hamid Entezam, the Islamic scholar, offers an alternative to the imposed U.S. sanctions in Iran.
“The best the West can do is restrain the regime’s adventures overseas through a carrot and stick approach and put pressure on Iran to respect human rights and political dissent. This can be achieved by sanctioning the rulers — not the subjects — as Trump is doing today.
“This type of sanction will be welcomed by the Iranian people and will create greater breathing room for grass-roots efforts to advance democracy inside Iran.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

California School Awards Dinner at Disneyland Comes With Hefty Price Tag

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting

DON'T MISS

Hamas Says It Is Still Reviewing a US Proposal for a Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

DON'T MISS

Oreo Maker Mondelez Sues Aldi, Alleging Grocery Chain Copies Its Packaging to Confuse Customers

DON'T MISS

FAA Demands an Accident Investigation Into SpaceX’s Latest Out-of-Control Starship Flight

DON'T MISS

In Marseille, a Shadow Becomes Art in Banksy’s Latest Street Mural

DON'T MISS

Dozens Sickened in Expanding Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers

DON'T MISS

Ray Appleton Set to Resume His KMJ Show. E Curtis Johnson Retires

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Communications Boss on Leave After AI-Generated FTA Dossier Debacle

UP NEXT

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

UP NEXT

In Marseille, a Shadow Becomes Art in Banksy’s Latest Street Mural

UP NEXT

Dozens Sickened in Expanding Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers

UP NEXT

Newsom Tussles With Local Officials Over Homelessness

UP NEXT

Speaker Johnson Raises Campaign Money in Fresno

UP NEXT

What Local Politicians, LGBT Community Say About Trans Track Star

UP NEXT

Fresno Will Build New Firehouse, Replacing ‘Temporary’ Station After 50 Years

UP NEXT

UN May Cut Staff by 20%, Internal Memo Says

UP NEXT

California’s War Over Charter Schools Rages On in Court

UP NEXT

Fresno’s First Fit Fest Mixes Sweat, Sportsmanship, and Support for Local Causes

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

2 hours ago

Oreo Maker Mondelez Sues Aldi, Alleging Grocery Chain Copies Its Packaging to Confuse Customers

2 hours ago

FAA Demands an Accident Investigation Into SpaceX’s Latest Out-of-Control Starship Flight

2 hours ago

In Marseille, a Shadow Becomes Art in Banksy’s Latest Street Mural

2 hours ago

Dozens Sickened in Expanding Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers

2 hours ago

Ray Appleton Set to Resume His KMJ Show. E Curtis Johnson Retires

2 hours ago

Fresno Unified Communications Boss on Leave After AI-Generated FTA Dossier Debacle

3 hours ago

Visalia Teen Takes Second Place in Dramatic Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals

3 hours ago

Newsom Tussles With Local Officials Over Homelessness

4 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Two Women Suspected in Targeted Shootings

4 hours ago

California School Awards Dinner at Disneyland Comes With Hefty Price Tag

California schools that have significantly improved student achievement will be honored in a ceremony hosted by the California Department of...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

California School Awards Dinner at Disneyland Comes With Hefty Price Tag

1 hour ago

Fresno Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting

1 hour ago

Hamas Says It Is Still Reviewing a US Proposal for a Gaza Ceasefire

2 hours ago

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

2 hours ago

Oreo Maker Mondelez Sues Aldi, Alleging Grocery Chain Copies Its Packaging to Confuse Customers

2 hours ago

FAA Demands an Accident Investigation Into SpaceX’s Latest Out-of-Control Starship Flight

2 hours ago

In Marseille, a Shadow Becomes Art in Banksy’s Latest Street Mural

2 hours ago

Dozens Sickened in Expanding Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend