Thursday, January 17, 2008

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.

Click on the chart for a larger view.
Iran's Total Exports and Imports, 1986-2006
"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.

Click on the table for a larger view.
Iran's Top Export Markets, by Country, 1994-2006
Iran's Top Import Suppliers, by Country, 1994-2006
"Iran Sanctions: Impact in Furthering U.S. Objectives Is Unclear and Should Be Reviewed," GAO-08-58, 18 December 2007

No comments: