A comprehensive but concise overview of Iran's politics, economy, military, foreign policy, and nuclear program. The volume chronicles U.S.-Iran relations under six American presidents and probes five options for dealing with Iran. Organized thematically, this book provides top-level briefings by 50 top experts on Iran (both Iranian and Western authors) and is a practical and accessible "go-to" resource for practitioners, policymakers, academics, and students, as well as a fascinating wealth of information for anyone interested in understanding Iran's pivotal role in world politics.

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Politics - Topic: International relations, grade: 1,3, University of Applied Sciences Essen, language: English, abstract: This essay aims to specify the theoretical basis of sanctions on Iran, afterwards focusing on the US Sanctions specifically. The history of the US-Iranian relationship is going to be described. Another goal is to outline the consequences that these sanctions have on the USA and Iran, but also on international trade up to now. This paper is divided into three sections. The first part explains the theoretical basis of sanctions including its definition, the different forms and reasons for sanctions as well as the legal requirements. In the main part, the US sanctions, its historical context as well as the goals and consequences of the US sanctions against Iran are presented. In the last part, a conclusion is drawn.

Contents: (1) Background of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA): Key Provisions: ¿Triggers¿ and Available Sanctions; Waiver and Termination Authority; Iran Freedom Support Act Amendments; Effectiveness and Ongoing Challenges: Energy Routes and Refinery Investment: Refinery Construction; Significant Purchase Agreements; Efforts in the 110th and 111th Congress to Expand ISA Application; Other Energy-Related Sanctions Ideas; (2) Relationships to Other U.S. Sanctions: Ban on U.S. Trade and Investment With Iran; Treasury Department ¿Targeted Financial Measures¿; Terrorism-Related Sanctions; Executive Order 13224; Proliferation-Related Sanctions; Efforts to Promote Divestment; Blocked Iranian Property and Assets. Tables.

Nations and international organizations are increasingly using sanctions as a means to achieve their foreign policy aims. However, sanctions are ineffective if they are executed without a clear strategy responsive to the nature and changing behavior of the target. In The Art of Sanctions, Richard Nephew offers a much-needed practical framework for planning and applying sanctions that focuses not just on the initial sanctions strategy but also, crucially, on how to calibrate along the way and how to decide when sanctions have achieved maximum effectiveness. Nephew—a leader in the design and implementation of sanctions on Iran—develops guidelines for interpreting targets’ responses to sanctions based on two critical factors: pain and resolve. The efficacy of sanctions lies in the application of pain against a target, but targets may have significant resolve to resist, tolerate, or overcome this pain. Understanding the interplay of pain and resolve is central to using sanctions both successfully and humanely. With attention to these two key variables, and to how they change over the course of a sanctions regime, policy makers can pinpoint when diplomatic intervention is likely to succeed or when escalation is necessary. Focusing on lessons learned from sanctions on both Iran and Iraq, Nephew provides policymakers with practical guidance on how to measure and respond to pain and resolve in the service of strong and successful sanctions regimes.

Patrick Clawson's paper examines US policy on sanctions against Iran. In particular, it analyzes the background and international reaction towards sanctions on the Islamic Republic, their economic and political impact, and the existence of alternative policies such as the European Union's 'critical dialogue'. The sharp divisions in opinion over sanctions both within the United States and among its allies are closely considered. Clawson states that although sanctions have had some modest accomplishments, they have come about at a price of strained inter-allied relations. Indeed, the disagreement between the US and the European Union over the efficacy of engaging Iran in a 'critical dialogue' is an example of this. Given the present domestic politics in both Iran and the US Clawson does not foresee a significant breakthrough in relations between the two nations. He believes the US will maintain sanctions on Iran for the indefinite future, and that the current level of hostility between the two powers will endure. Even with the impact that US sanctions have had on the Iranian economy, the author remains unconvinced that Tehran has any intentions of altering its policies.

This report analyzes four key aspects of US and Iranian strategic competition--sanctions, energy, arms control, and regime change. Its primary focus is on the ways in which the sanctions applied to Iran have changed US and Iranian competition since the fall of 2011. This escalation has been spurred by the creation of a series of far stronger US unilateral sanctions and the European Union’s imposition of equally strong sanctions, both of which affect Iran’s ability to export, its financial system, and its overall economy.