An Appraisal of Sanctions as a Sword of Deterrence in International Politics: The Iranian Experience, 2017-2023

The current paper is an assessment of the article, Sanctions as a Sword of Deterrence in International Politics: The Iranian Experience, 2017 2023. The use of sanctions as a consistent tool of foreign policy has gained more and more attention among policymakers. The decades of coercive action against Iran have not reduced its geopolitical ambitions or nuclear ambitions and this has created significant controversy about the true effectiveness of such actions in creating behavioral change. This paper challenges the complexity of sanctions by examining the Iranian case between 2017 and 2024, when the pressure was increased and diplomatic games were played. It takes two theoretical perspectives, namely, the deterrence theory and the coercion theory of sanctions, to shed light on how sanctions are structured to affect target states and what variables make them effective or ineffective. The qualitative methodology was used, and systematic content analysis of secondary data was conducted. The results show that the deterrence effectiveness of sanctions is often nullified by the ability of the target state to evolve, innovate, and find new allies and by the domestic political limitations of the imposing state to lift the sanctions. Furthermore, the interaction between the costs that the sender incurs and the stability of the leadership of the target country significantly influences the final result and sustainability of the sanctions regime. The humanitarian and ethical consequences are also preempted: sanctions systematically affect healthcare systems and the general civilian population with no significant impact on the deterrence of nuclear programs, which is why the overall usefulness of such sanctions is seriously questioned. Finally, the Iranian case provides a critical prism by which to question the complexities of international sanctions, highlighting the urgency of a more holistic, dynamic framework that will govern their execution and eventual repeal. This type of framework would require a reconsideration of the standards according to which sanctions can be considered effective, not only in the context of individual behavioral changes but also in terms of the wider geopolitical stability and human welfare factors. On the basis of these findings, the research suggests that policymakers should focus on multilateral consensus, set realistic and achievable goals, and integrate effective humanitarian exemptions to reduce unintentional suffering of civilian populations.