Sanctions Boomerang:Iran Moves towards Self-Reliance under Shadow of Sanctions | ||
Sanctions Boomerang:Iran Moves towards Self-Reliance under Shadow of Sanctions [Fatemeh Mousavi Jashni] sanctions against Iran are not something new, but the severity and intensity of sanctions is new.
Although the year 2012 was the first year of the imposition of “paralyzing sanctions” by US on Iran, the available figures related to Iran trade with other countries, particularly the countries that are apparently more lenient towards the sanctions against Iran, clearly indicate that economic sanctions have practically failed because Iran’s trade with its partners is increasing. According to a Reuters report, Iran’s export of fuel oil in April this year, increased five times compared to the figures related to the same month last year. The figures stood at 300,000 barrels per day. Also Iranian traders have been able to overcome the difficulties related to transactions, which practically means bypassing the sanctions. Interestingly, according to the US Commerce Department, Iran’s commercial exchanges with the United States increased by 80 percent in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the previous period last year. The US exported goods worth 72.7 million dollars to Iran during the said period. During 2012, which is known as the year of paralyzing sanctions, Iran-US bilateral trade increased about 10 percent. The German Statistics Center announced that after the imposition of sanctions, the exports of Wheat to Iran has increased 16 folds. From July 2012 to February 2013 the exports of wheat from Germany to Iran reached 1024 million tons, which shows 16 folds increase compared to the same period the perilous year. A Turkish statistics center has announced that the value of gold exported to Tehran by Ankara stood at 381 million dollars in March 2013, showing about three folds increase compared to the same period the previous year. Iran has in fact ustilized the opportunity of sanctions to strengthen its domestic production and reduce reliance on imports. At the same time the increase in oil prices has made up for the quantity of exports, while many Western countries have increased their oil imports from Iran. Having seen Iran’s success in international arena, Obama Administration had to withdraw in man y cases by exempting many trade partners in dealing with Iran in many occasions. A glance at the list of Iran’s trade with other parts of the world indicates that not only the sanctions have not been successful, but Iran’s trade with other countries has increased. At the same time, sanctions in many areas have prepared the grounds for Iranian producers to step in and fill the lacuna. Fatemeh Mousavi Jashni is a teacher, Kermatullah Karimi High School, Shiraz, Iran | ||
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