Economic Sanctions and the Dynamism of International Politics: Assessing Iran’s Adaptive Strategies to Sanctions, 2017–2024

Abstract

Economic sanctions are essential instruments in international relations, often used to ensure compliance, prevent hostility, and uphold global security. Nonetheless, its implementation in Iran from 2017 to 2023 exposed considerable difficulties. The issue is in the twin effects of the sanctions: while they sought to mitigate nuclear proliferation, regional aggressiveness, and non-compliance with international standards, their unexpected repercussions significantly harmed Iran's economy, political stability, and civilian populations. The humanitarian problems, economic reliance, and ethical issues associated with sanctions necessitated a thorough evaluation of their efficacy and wider ramifications in international relations. The research sought to examine the influence of sanctions on Iran's conduct and their effectiveness in alleviating global security threats throughout this timeframe. Grounded in constructivist theory, the research used a qualitative approach, utilising content analysis to evaluate secondary data from policy papers, academic publications, and reports. The results underscored the limited efficacy of sanctions in securing compliance, while exposing significant economic disruptions, humanitarian catastrophes, and ethical quandaries. Strategic relationships with non-Western states alleviated some effects but highlighted the need for sanctions reform. It determined that sanctions are inadequate without supplementary diplomatic initiatives. The research concluded that future sanctions systems should include humanitarian protections and international cooperation to improve efficacy and reduce damage to civilian populations.