U.S. State Department Official: The Goal of Sanctions is Not to Harm the People of Iran

A U.S. State Department official on Friday, September 2, reacted to the position of the UN Special Rapporteur regarding the "unjust and harmful" nature of sanctions against Iran, emphasizing that the goal of these sanctions is "not to harm the people of Iran." The official, who wished to remain anonymous, also stated in response to Radio Farda's questions that "the Iranian regime is responsible for the problems and issues" facing the Iranian people. Idris Jazayeri, the UN Special Rapporteur on the "negative impact of unilateral coercive measures," stated in a statement on Wednesday, August 31, that the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and their comprehensive implementation by the Security Council indicates their "illegality." He added, "International sanctions must have a legitimate purpose and be proportionate. Sanctions should not violate the rights of ordinary citizens, but none of these considerations have been taken into account in this case [the sanctions against Iran]." Donald Trump, the U.S. President, withdrew from the JCPOA on May 8 of this year, and on August 7, the first round of suspended U.S. sanctions against Iran was reactivated. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the currency market in Iran experienced severe tension, and the price of the dollar suddenly surged, reaching up to 12,000 tomans. The UN Special Rapporteur emphasized that the current conditions are so unclear that Iran can no longer import its essential goods. He stressed that these conditions could lead to a shortage of medicine and the "silent death of millions of patients in hospitals." In response to this position, the U.S. State Department official told Radio Farda that the goal of the sanctions is not to harm the people but to "quickly bring the [Islamic Republic] regime back to the negotiating table." He continued, "The Iranian government, which spreads terrorism worldwide, must be held accountable for its people's problems. What harms the Iranian people the most is the systematic violation of human rights within the country, the lack of civil liberties, and widespread government corruption and mismanagement of the economy." According to this State Department official, the United States stands with the people of Iran, who "want economic opportunities, government transparency, justice and fairness, and more freedom." In recent months, Iranian officials have repeatedly tried to assure the people that the resumption of U.S. sanctions against Iran will not affect their daily lives and livelihoods. For instance, Hassan Rouhani, the President, mentioned in late July that "the government promises the people that there will be no problems in energy, transportation, essential goods, and production." However, even before all U.S. sanctions have begun, the price of the dollar and, consequently, the prices of goods in Iran have risen, while foreign companies are announcing one after another that they cannot withstand the threat of U.S. sanctions. In this context, John Bolton, National Security Advisor to Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday that the return of sanctions against Iran has already had a significant impact on Iran's economy and public opinion within the country.