PAAIA Releases 2012 Iran Sanctions Report

August 27, 2012, Washington D.C. – Today, PAAIA released its 2012 Iran Sanctions Report, detailing past and current sanctions on Iran, the impact of those sanctions on Iran, and how they affect the Iranian American community in the U.S. Sanctions have been a major component of U.S. policy towards Iran since 1979, when they were first imposed in response to the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Iran. President Carter, in November of that year, issued Executive Order 12170 freezing approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets, including bank deposits, gold, and other properties. With the escalating tensions over Iran’s capabilities to potentially produce a nuclear weapon, additional unilateral and multilateral sanctions have recently been levied against Iran.

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview and analysis of current sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, their overall impact on Iran and the impact on the Iranian American community.

While PAAIA is focused on domestic U.S. affairs as they relate to the Iranian American community and has not been a platform for promoting U.S. foreign policy vis-à-vis Iran, we recognize the importance of providing objective and balanced information and analysis on issues affecting the Iranian American community and pertinent to policymakers. This report enables Iranian Americans to remain informed about legislative initiatives and the positions held by their elected officials as it relates to Iran.

The report, built upon PAAIA’s Report on Iran Sanctions Legislation, 111th Congress, published in November 2009, includes a historical summary of U.S. sanctions, an overview of the additional sanctions imposed as well as certain other legislation under consideration during the 112th Congress, and a balanced review of available research assessing the impact of sanctions on achieving desired U.S. policy outcomes.

Click here to read PAAIA’s 2012 Iran Sanctions Report.