We need sanctions against Iran
Meir Javedanfar
Winston Churchill once described Russia as "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." No one yet has come up with an analogy to describe the difficulty of understanding and dealing with Iran.
With its thousands of years of history and multitude of cultures and languages, comprehending Iranian society and its politics could perhaps be likened to a fusion of astronomy and algebra. Very often political scientists discover new factors and players which they were not aware of. And once they do, establishing relations and correlations between them could turn into calculator defying operations.
This is one of the reason why western countries have found it difficult to deal with Iran, especially after the revolution.
Despite the present challenges in understanding Iran, since Obama took office in 2009, some factors have become more clear than others.
One is the intransigence of the Iranian leadership. Since taking office Obama has tried several diplomatic initiatives in order to reach out to the government of Ali Khamenei. These included two personal letters to the Iranian supreme leader. His overtures were dismissed. The regime does not seem interested in a diplomatic rapprochement with the U.S.
Meanwhile evidence is mounting against Iranian claims that the nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. These include: discovery of a secret enrichment facility in Natanz in 2002, another secret facility at Fordo near Qom in September 2009, and the discovery by the UN nuclear agency that Iran had tested advanced nuclear warhead design.
Such discoveries, as well as Iran's refusal to accept Obama's diplomatic overtures are convincing increasing number of countries that Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and the man responsible for Iran's nuclear program, has military plans for his nuclear program. They are also an indication that he is not interested in reaching a compromise with the West, until he has fulfilled this goal.
Inaction will not stop the Iranian government. At the same time, war without giving diplomacy and other non-militaristic methods a chance would also boost the regime's standing at home. This was witnessed after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran in 1980. His unprovoked attack boosted the regime's credibility.
For now, targeted sanctions offer the most suitable solution. The engine of the Islamic Republic does not run on chants of "Death to America." It runs on income from its economy. Punishment of the Revolutionary Guard's business interests, and the private wealth of the regime have sent a powerful message to Tehran's rulers that defiance carries a price.
Understanding Iran is still a perplexing challenge for many governments. But history has shown that when pressured, the regime responds. Therefore the west should continue to pressure it, and what better way than targeted sanctions, which punish it for its nuclear policies, and its abuse of human rights, even more.
Meir Javedanfar is an Iranian-Israeli Middle East analyst, the coauthor of The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and The State of Iran and UN Global Expert.
Follow Meir Javedanfar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Meir_Javedanfar
What's the reason and benefit in treating Iranians this way?
These sanctions are a required preliminary step, in the U.S. public PR department and also for weakening the other country, for another future pre-emptive w a r, I ra q 2. Other than that, these very broad sanctions do not have any use, and please spare us with trying to justify that this is a wise policy and the right thing to do.
What's the reason and benefit in treating Iranians this way?
These sanctions are a required preliminary step, in the U.S. public PR department and also for weakening the other country, for another future pre-emptive w a r, I ra q 2. Other than that, these very broad sanctions do not have any use, and please spare us with trying to justify that this is a wise policy and the right thing to do.
Having weapons is not a reason to be punished; after all, you have these same weapons
And in fact, they don't have them. So your argument is just completely ridiculous
Mr. Majid wins by default, but truth be told his arguments were not very good either.
Yeah, but wikileaks proved that Obama was never serious, and I would guess the Iranians saw through his cheap act.
In the end, sanctions do not work, we should mess with them. Leave Iran alone, that seems simple enough to me.
Groups like United Against a Nuclear Iran sprung up and tried to hijack any reform movement to their own ends, and with vast sums of money.
The agenda is hidden behind a shining white horse. The Iranians are insusceptible to propaganda.
Leftist students took over the US embassy 30 years ago calling it a "den of spies". WikiLeaks vindicates them 30 years later...
And I like to add to this, what khomeini said about the war with Iraq: we -the mullahs- will fight the Iraqies to the last "brick" of our homes! War, War, War untill achieving victory! At the end when all sources were burnt up, he said: I had to drink the goblet of POISIN. By that he ment, he was forced to accept the ceasefire with Iraq and the war!
There is also a joke among the people in Iran which tells: "We -the mullahs- never surrender ourselves to any FORCE unless that FORCE is too FORCEFULLLLL!" The mullahs will come to their knees when the force (sanctions) is strong enough to break them. That kind of CROCODIAL'S TEARS which says the people are getting more hurt, is contrary to the fact that the biggest problem for the people is the suppression and dictatorship of the mullahs in Iran, not the sanctions in any aspect of them.
The US and the West should not listen to the Israelis and people like Mr. Javedanfar. They should treat Iran with respect and negotiate in good faith instead of threats, illegal sanctions, funding and encouraging the Iranian terrorists groups to attack Iran from the US controlled Iraq and Afghanistan. They should never underestimate Iranian nationalism especially when Iran is attacked or pressured by foreign forces that want to capture their natural resources.
Perhaps if we dealt with our own hypocrisy first, we'd find it easier to understand the views of other countries.
lol fine I'm TECHNICALLY responsible.... but I'm blaming HP for tricking me :x
Hooman Majd is a respected humanitarian. His view is quite accurate. Prices have gone way up in Iran for the average Iranian. The strain on Iran's economy, like the strain on America's economy, doesn't affect the wealthy. Anyone who visits Iran can see for themselves that the sanctions are truly affecting the people and not the government, in any sense. Indeed, people who are well off in Iran, sometimes due to government connections, have created a luxury market in Iran recently featured on Street Signs on CNBC http://streetsigns.cnbc.com
The sanctions are extralegal. Iran continues to be fully compliant with the NPT and has the most monitored program ever. Latest report: iaea.org. On the other hand, Israel's program violates several Federal and International laws based on the US' grant of 3+ billion dollars per year to Israel. Indeed, Israel's possession of 200+ rogue nukes creates substantial reason for sanctions, including a 189 nation demand (signed by the US as well) that Israel come clean about its nukes and sign the NPT: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/28/world/main6528140.shtml
Why am I bringing this up? To point out how hypocritical it is to render these sanctions, BASED ON NO ACTUAL EVIDENCE, upon Iran while completely ignoring one's own non-complacency with the same law or taking a non-signatory and rogue regime's requests to sanction Iran at face value. Why would the US do that? Iraq was just the door to Iran. They have been after the trillions of dollars of resources in Iran since 1953.
Therefore, while Hooman Majd is correct that sanctions are hurting the people, the other argument that the sanctions are invalid, unjust, and based on a double standard should also be heeded.
Hooman Majd is a respected humanitarian. His view is quite accurate. Prices have gone way up in Iran for the average Iranian. The strain on Iran's economy, like the strain on America's economy, does not affect the wealthy but the regular citizens. Anyone who visits Iran can see for themselves that the sanctions are truly affecting the people and not the government, in any sense. Indeed, people who are well off in Iran, sometimes due to government connections, have created a luxury market in Iran recently featured on Street Signs on CNBC http://streetsigns.cnbc.com
The sanctions are extralegal. Iran continues to be fully compliant with the NPT and has the most monitored program ever. You can check the latest report yourself at iaea.org. On the other hand, Israel's program violates several Federal and International laws based on the US' (cont)
I'm not claiming the leaders are planning on war. I think they are planning on developing military might in order to become a regional power. But the sword incites to violence. Once they have the power, social forces in their society (the need for polygamous cultures to eliminate young men) will tip the balance into an attack somewhere.
Fortunately the U.S. need not be involved. We get to stand back and watch this one.
Whether we should stand back is another question. I think we should avoid the conflict unless formally approached by a coalition of Iran's neighbors.
It's in our interests to stop nuclear proliferation. But we can't do it on our own. It's time the world stepped in to help instead of throwing stones. If they don't want to, let Iran conquer them.
Based on what? Opinions are like ______.
But it is just an opinion. I would like to be proven wrong. And since the course I'm proposing would work just as well if I was wrong, I can't understand your animosity. Do you seek war with the U.S.?
Iran hasn't started a war in 300 years.
The real middle east war monger is Israel, look how many wars they started, how many people they displace, detain or deny human rights, and how many countries the illegally occupy.