Four decades of Western pressure: Iran sanctions

Over the past 45 years, Iran has been subjected to an extensive array of Western sanctions, intensified by various international incidents and policy decisions. Here’s a breakdown of the key sanctions and their triggers:

– **1979 Hostage Crisis**: After Iranian students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in November 1979, capturing 52 hostages, the U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 and implemented travel and trade restrictions.

– **1983 Beirut Bombing**: Following the deadly suicide bombings in Beirut that killed hundreds of U.S. and French servicemen, the U.S. designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism in 1984 and later imposed a ban on Iranian imports and some exports in 1987 due to attacks on U.S. ships.

– **1995 Total Embargo**: President Bill Clinton declared a complete trade and financial embargo on Iran, citing its support for terrorism and attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction. This included sanctions against foreign firms investing in Iran’s oil industry.

– **2005 Nuclear Concerns**: With fears over Iran’s nuclear ambitions peaking, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad resumed uranium enrichment, leading to multiple rounds of U.N. sanctions between 2006 and 2010 focused on Iran’s nuclear and military entities, coupled with asset freezes.

– **2010-2012 Financial Strain**: The U.S. and U.N. intensified sanctions, notably impacting Iran’s petroleum imports, banking sector, and global financial transactions. The EU also imposed significant sanctions, including a ban on Iranian oil and freezing assets, particularly those of Iran’s central bank.

– **2015 Nuclear Deal**: A landmark deal in 2015 temporarily eased nuclear-related sanctions in return for Iran limiting its nuclear activities. However, President Donald Trump exited the deal in 2018, reinstating and expanding U.S. sanctions against Iran.

– **2022-23 Response to Internal Unrest**: Following the crackdown on protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, the U.S. and EU implemented sanctions against Iranian officials and entities involved in the suppression.

– **2024 Attack on Israel**: After Iran’s missile and drone assault on Israel, the U.S. announced forthcoming sanctions targeting Iran’s missile and drone programs, with the EU also preparing tougher sanctions.

These sanctions reflect the ongoing tensions and complex relationships between Iran and Western powers, particularly in response to Iran’s regional activities and internal policies.