Sanctions Fail to Isolate Iran

Delightful news from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO): Iran's international trade has grown dramatically since the imposition of US sanctions against Iran in 1987.

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"Iran Sanctions: Impact in Furthering U.S. Objectives Is Unclear and Should Be Reviewed," GAO-08-58, 18 December 2007

Since 2003, foreign firms have signed energy contracts with Iran worth $20 billion, too, so Washington's recent attempts to intensify the sanctions have also been a failure.

The US sanctions have merely changed the makeup of Iran's trade partners, who are now primarily Asian and secondarily European.

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"Iran Sanctions: Impact in Furthering U.S. Objectives Is Unclear and Should Be Reviewed," GAO-08-58, 18 December 2007