In his speech on April 24, 2024, Imam Khamenei clarified the West's intentions behind imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating: “What is the goal of these sanctions? They mention certain goals, [but] they are lying. Those issues are not their goal. They bring up the issue of nuclear energy. They raise the issue of nuclear weapons and human rights. These things are not the issue. [They say], “We are imposing sanctions on Iran because it supports terrorism!” Who are the terrorists? The people of Gaza. In their opinion the people of Gaza are terrorists.”
Over the years, Western media campaigns have shaped a widespread belief among the global public that Iran's sanctions are primarily due to its alleged non-peaceful development of nuclear program and the potential for the country to develop nuclear weapons. Despite numerous reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency and clear fatwa from the Leader of Islamic Revolution affirming the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities, an analysis of the history and content of Western sanctions, particularly those imposed by the US, reveals that while Iran's nuclear program is cited as a reason for the sanctions, it is not the main or central cause.
Primary sanctions after the Islamic Revolution
The primary Western sanctions against Iran were triggered by the arrest of American spies at the US Embassy in Tehran. These sanctions resulted in the freezing of tens of billions of dollars of Iran's assets abroad, which remained blocked even after the release of the prisoners. Amid the Iran-Iraq War, the US prohibited all arms exports to Iran in 1984. That same year, the US State Department designated Iran as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism." This decision was made not long after Lebanese youth began their resistance against the Zionist invasion of Lebanon since 1982, with Iran backing these youths and the establishment of Hezbollah. In 1987, as Saddam Hussein’s regime sought to hinder Iranian oil production and exports, the US joined these efforts and, following Iran's defiance, imposed further sanctions against the country.
Sanctions after the Iran-Iraq War
ISA, a significant US sanction against Iran, was ratified in 1996, adding to the foundations of oil sanctions. At that time, Iran's nuclear program was not yet a focal point. The primary accusation leveled against Iran in these sanctions is "support for terrorism." Iran's nuclear program came into sharp focus after 2003. Analysis of the sanctions indicates that Iran's nuclear program was not the main focus. Executive Order 13224, enacted in 2001 and targeting Iranian individuals and entities from 2007 onward, aimed to combat terrorism financing. These sanctions were imposed on Iran not long after two significant events in 2006: the failure of the Zionist regime in the 33-day war, resulting in over 1500 Lebanese martyrs, and Hamas' victory in the Palestinian Legislative elections; an election which remained inconclusive due to attempts at manipulation by Zionist regime, US government and treacherous Palestinians. After intense confrontations, Hamas expelled Zionist occupation forces from Gaza.
In 2005, another executive order, Executive Order 13382, was issued to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, primarily targeting Iran with sanctions. Analysis of the text and impact of these sanctions suggests that Iran's missile and military sectors were the primary focus. The very missile sector that showed its precision in True Promise Operation and accurately got over residential areas without hitting them, and reached their military targets.
Analyzing the Western sanctions imposed on Iran and the trajectory of Iran’s nuclear industry clearly reveals that there isn't a direct correlation between the two. The most significant wave of sanctions against Iran prior to the JCPOA was linked to the riots following the 2009 presidential elections in Iran, alongside concerns about supporting terrorism, in addition to the nuclear issue. While the nuclear aspect is often cited in the titles of these sanctions, a review of their impact, such as CISADA, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, and others, suggests that the primary goals of these sanctions have been targeting Iran's economy and addressing support for terrorism.
‘Iran must be weakened’
Richard Nephew, in his book "The Art of Sanctions," argues that imposing sanctions and exerting pressure on the Iranian people will force the government to change its behavior. This change, as discussed in Western political literature, would involve Iran withdrawing support from Resistance groups and adopting their cultural and economic policies in the region. Since its inception, the Islamic Republic of Iran has viewed itself as obligated to support freedom-seeking movements worldwide that are oppressed by colonialism, occupation, and dictatorship. IRGC providing advisors to train Lebanese fighters against the Zionist occupation, halting oil exports to the apartheid regime to support the freedom movement of the South African people, assisting oppressed Muslim fighters in Bosnia during the 1990s, and participating in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria are examples of Iran’s international behavior that the West wants to change. Above all, Iran's steadfast support for the Palestinian cause since the victory of the Islamic Revolution is the exact “dangerous behavior” that sanctions aim to curb. Therefore, during the FATF meeting in October 2023, following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Iran was urged to cease financing armed Resistance groups, which is stipulated in Article 154 of Iran’s Constitution. According to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, combating occupation, colonialism, or racism is considered legal and legitimate.
Continuing his explanation for Iran's sanctions on April 24, 2024, Imam Khamenei stated: “The goal of sanctions is to put Islamic Iran in a tight spot. Why do they seek to put the Islamic system of the Islamic Republic of Iran under pressure by imposing sanctions? Because they want us to comply with their colonizing, imperialistic policies. They want us to submit to their tyrannical demands and power-hungry expectations and to align our policies with theirs... it is evident that the Islamic system, Islamic devoutness, and the great, long-standing Islamic nation will never submit to such coercion.”
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