Sanctions are a part of international diplomacy in today’s world, applied by sanctioning countries as a non-military tool to force the target countries to respond in a desired manner. In fact, sanctions are an economic weapon in the field of non-military struggle that takes diplomacy beyond the level of negotiation and into the realm of action.

Sanctions are usually designed in terms of three objectives: offensive, defensive, and communicative.

In the offensive dimension, the goal of the sanctioning country is to change a specific behavior of the target country. In other words, the sanctioning country tries to change the behavior and actions of the sanctioned state by applying pressure. In the defensive dimension, the goal of the sanction is to slow down the development process and reduce the strategic capabilities of the target country.

In the communication dimension, sanctions can be used as a tool to convey the message of the sanctioning country’s dissatisfaction with the policies or actions of the sanctioned country. Sanctions are imposed on countries in both political and economic areas. In the political dimension, the goal of sanctions is to force the target country to comply with the policies of the sanctioning countries. These types of sanctions can be imposed with goals such as overthrowing the political system of the target country or demonstrating the power of the sanctioning country.

In the economic dimension, sanctions may be imposed to pressure a country to change its political behavior or to destabilize the economy and domestic politics of the target country. Sanctions can be imposed unilaterally, multilaterally, or comprehensively. Unilateral sanctions are imposed by one country against another without regard to UN Security Council resolutions.

Comprehensive or global sanctions are adopted by international bodies such as the United Nations or the Security Council and are intended to change the policy or behavior of the targeted country. Multilateral sanctions are imposed by several countries or international organizations with different motives and often have a greater impact on the sanctioned country.

Economic sanctions

One of the most common types of sanctions globally is economic sanctions, which are implemented with the aim of weakening the economic power of the target country. In this type of sanction, the sanctioning country attempts to expose the target government’s inefficiency and make it appear incapable of responding to the needs of its citizens.

Economic sanctions inflict a heavy blow on the country’s economy; they cause a decrease in national output, a depreciation of the currency, an increase in unemployment, a rise in prices, and a budget deficit. These sanctions also lead to a significant decrease in gross domestic product, a decrease in exports and imports, an outflow of foreign capital, and a contraction in international investment.

A country that is subject to severe economic sanctions will, over time, face economic fragility and disrupt the balance between supply and demand, which will ultimately lead to economic stagnation.

Economic sanctions as a political tool

Hegemonic powers such as the United States, due to their political, economic, ideological, and military superiority, have always tried to shape the international system based on their interests and institutionalize the acceptance of their hegemony among other countries. Economic sanctions are an alternative to military power and reflect the anger and dissatisfaction of the sanctioning country with the policies of the target country.

United States uses economic sanctions as an effective political tool to impose its demands and national interests

These sanctions are usually imposed against developing countries or political regimes opposed to the United States.

Economic sanctions can have profound negative consequences in the political, social, economic, and legal spheres. These types of sanctions can also be called “international sanctions” because they are implemented with the aim of imposing trade restrictions, investment bans, increasing customs tariffs, restricting financial relations, and preventing the transfer of technology.

Economic sanctions can be imposed for a variety of reasons, but one of the most important is to change the political system of the target country. Sanctions are sometimes not only intended to isolate a country, but can also serve to overthrow its political system. A historical example of this type of sanctions is the economic and political pressure on Iran during the prime ministership of Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh.

After the nationalization of the oil industry in 1950, Britain and the United States imposed an oil embargo and imposed severe financial restrictions to suppress this anti-colonial movement. These sanctions, aimed at weakening the Iranian economy, led to internal crises and ultimately the coup of 1953 that overthrew the Mossadegh government.

Sanctions are often designed to create internal unrest by pressuring the public and creating public discontent, in the hope that this discontent will lead to regime change. Another reason for imposing sanctions is to change the policy and policy of the target country.

Sanctions are powerful tools in international relations and are sometimes designed to force target countries to change their policies.

The purpose of sanctions, or so-called restrictions and pressure, is to force the target country to accept the demands of the international community or the sanctioning country. This pressure is usually applied in the form of economic, trade, financial or even diplomatic barriers.

The sanctioning country attempts to force the policymakers of the target country to change course and accept its demands by increasing costs and reducing benefits. Sanctions create indirect pressure on policymakers and decision-makers by affecting the country’s economic and social structure.

These sanctions restrict trade by reducing access to financial resources, technology, and technology, and cause welfare problems for citizens. The combination of factors that sanctions impose on the social and economic structure of society leads to the formation of public dissatisfaction and internal pressure on the government.

Prominent examples of sanctions aimed at changing the domestic policy of the target country were the sanctions imposed by the United Nations and Western countries on South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s. These sanctions were imposed due to apartheid and racial discrimination policies and included trade restrictions, sports embargoes, and blocking access to international financial markets.

Economic pressures, trade restrictions, and diplomatic isolation forced the South African government to move toward a more democratic and open system. Another important example is the sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council, the European Union, and the United States over its nuclear program.

These sanctions, which intensified in the early 2000s, imposed restrictions on oil exports, imports of sensitive technologies, and access to the global banking system. The aim of these sanctions was to force Iran to halt sensitive nuclear activities.

Sanctions are also imposed to weaken the economic structure of the target country

This effective tool limits the executive power of the target country to advance policies by reducing its financial and economic strength. This is done by creating barriers to access to global markets, advanced technologies, exports and imports, and freezing foreign assets.

Such restrictions can disrupt supply chains, reduce foreign exchange earnings, and halt the target country’s development or military programs. A prime example of these effects is the sanctions imposed on Iran, which have had particularly devastating effects on the oil and gas sector.

Declining oil revenues have led to a decline in domestic investment, high inflation, and a devaluation of the national currency. Banking sanctions have also restricted international trade, making it difficult to import essential goods and increasing economic and social pressure.

Sanctions accelerate the process of policy change by targeting the economic structure of the target country. In this type of sanctions, international financial resources are blocked and the bank accounts and foreign exchange reserves of the target country are frozen. This blockage increases the costs of production and imports and ultimately leads to the inability of the target country to pay its debts.

When exports and imports are restricted, key industries such as oil and gas are affected. Economic restrictions prevent access to advanced technologies and hinder economic development. This leads to higher inflation rates, economic stagnation, devaluation of the national currency, reduced foreign investment, and increased unemployment, ultimately putting more domestic pressure on the government.

Sanctions are often imposed in response to specific actions by countries.

These actions may include human rights violations, support for terrorism, or military aggression. Examples of this type of sanctions include sanctions imposed on Russia for its annexation of Crimea and its military aggression against Ukraine.

In response to the invasion of Ukraine, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and the Security Council imposed sweeping sanctions that have dealt a heavy blow to the Russian economy. These sanctions have included the removal of Russian banks from the SWIFT financial system, the freezing of central bank assets, and restrictions on dollar and euro transactions. Exports of advanced technology, military equipment, and sensitive industries such as oil and gas to Russia have also been banned. These measures have led to a depreciation of the ruble, rising inflation, and stagnation in key sectors of the Russian economy. Restrictions on access to foreign currency and advanced technologies have posed serious challenges to Russian industries.

In fact, economic sanctions are political tools that powerful and hegemonic countries use to implement national interests, exert power, and control the international order. Economic sanctions can cause a decrease in production, a collapse in the value of the national currency, an increase in unemployment, a decrease in investment, and inflation.

These sanctions are designed with various motives and goals and are usually imposed by developed countries against developing countries. These pressures are applied with the aim of forcing countries to accept the policies of the sanctioning country and have both positive and negative consequences. Economic pressure and sanctions cause inflation and public discontent, which can lead to political and social instability in the target country.

On the positive side, sanctions may lead to greater self-sufficiency, de-dependence, and independence for the sanctioned country. Sanctions force governments to increase their focus on domestic production and take measures to counter the pressures.

Instead of completely dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, the US aims to limit uranium enrichment activities necessary for nuclear weapons.

The second round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US will take place on Saturday, April 19, again in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Bekayi said in a statement to the official news agency IRNA, “As a result of the consultations, it was decided that Muscat will continue to host the second round of talks to be held on Saturday, April 19.”

On the other hand, Trump’s Middle East Special Representative Steve Witkoff said that the basis of a possible agreement would be based on the supervision of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and nuclear weapons production capacity.

Witkoff, who heads the US delegation in the negotiations, said to Fox News that Iran’s justification for enriching uranium for civilian purposes is limited, saying, “Iran does not need to enrich above 3.67%. In some cases, they reach 20% and in some cases 60%. This is unacceptable.”

These statements reveal that Washington’s priority is not to completely eliminate Tehran’s nuclear program, but to impose restrictions to prevent the production of nuclear weapons. This approach differs, especially from Israel’s calls for the dismantling of the entire nuclear program.

Witkoff noted that not only uranium enrichment, but also the types of missiles Iran possesses and nuclear weapon triggers will be on the agenda in the next round of negotiations. Witkoff said, “The devil is in the details. Therefore, the verification process will form the basis of the agreement.”

Witkoff did not speak openly about who would oversee the implementation of a possible agreement, and avoided giving information on whether US inspectors or the United Nations would take part.

Witkoff’s statements show that the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement, which was signed during the Obama administration and terminated by Trump in 2018, forms the basis for the current discussions. The agreement prohibited Iran from enriching uranium above 3.67%.

According to a BBC report, during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) meeting held in Brussels on April 11, NATO countries and their allies decided to provide a record level of aid to Kyiv, totaling over €21 billion.

This support aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Germany will provide the largest portion of this amount, €11 billion, while Britain will contribute approximately €5.2 billion.

According to statements by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Berlin’s upcoming aid to Kyiv includes 100,000 artillery shells, 25 armored combat vehicles, 15 main battle tanks, 100 ground surveillance radar stations, and 120 portable air defense missile systems.

Berlin will also deliver four IRIS-T air defense systems with 300 missiles to Ukraine.

In addition, a €523 million package jointly prepared by Britain and Norway will supply radars, anti-tank mines, repair military equipment, and purchase hundreds of thousands of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Pistorius stated, “Ukraine needs a strong army, but only in this way can negotiations lead to a fair and lasting peace.”

The minister added, “Russia must understand that Ukraine can continue the war, and we will support Ukraine in this regard.”

British Defense Secretary John Healey, as reported by Politico, stated in his speech that he accused Russia of disrupting the peace initiatives proposed by the US and approved by Kyiv a month ago.

Healey claimed, “Putin claims he wants peace, but his troops continue to attack Ukraine, targeting both military objectives and civilian infrastructure.”

Defense ministry representatives from 50 countries attended the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, organized at the call of Berlin and London.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the meeting via video conference and thanked the allies for their work.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, informally known as the Ramstein format, first met in April 2022 at the US-owned Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Since then, the regular meetings have become a key international platform for coordinating aid to Ukraine.

The group’s members include NATO countries, European Union members, and Ukraine’s other international partners.

The format’s main objectives include ensuring the supply of weapons, training Ukrainian soldiers, discussing the country’s current and future defense needs, and developing long-term support strategies in the war against Russia.