Farshad Momeni, an economist and university professor, analyzed the objectives of economic sanctions against Iran by examining the book "The Art of Sanctions" written by Richard Nephew. In this book, he refers to four main objectives of the sanctions that reflect the approach of the sanctioning parties in undermining domestic production capacity and keeping Iran's economy dependent on raw material exports.
Analysis of Sanction Objectives
Momeni, referring to page 89 of Nephew's book, stated: "The first objective of the sanctions from his perspective is to prevent a reduction in Iran's economic dependence on oil." This clearly indicates that the goal of the sanctions is not merely to limit oil exports, but rather, the main objective is to prevent fundamental changes in Iran's economic structure. According to him, these types of policies aim to keep the target country, especially Iran, within the traditional global division of labor, where dominated countries act as exporters of raw materials and importers of manufactured goods.
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Consequences of Oil Dependency
Momeni emphasized that based on this model, Iran's economy must remain dependent on oil and gas exports to cover its costs and cannot expand its technological capacities and industrial production. This dependence on oil not only weakens domestic industry but also means losing economic opportunities to increase diversity in the country's economic structure.
He also stressed that sanction policies should be viewed as tools for limiting foreign exchange revenues and preventing changes in Iran's position in the global division of labor. Therefore, a precise analysis of the objectives of the sanctions can help in better understanding the existing economic and social challenges.
Momeni pointed out that for the success of sanctions, the sanctioning parties must understand their counterpart better than themselves. This is particularly important regarding Iran, which has a complex and rich history in economic and political matters. Thus, a thorough examination of the sanctions and their objectives can assist in improving domestic economic strategies.
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