What are sanctions?

We have two children in the colony. Let’s call them Ami and Imi.

One day, Ami and Imi have a fight over something. It could be something big, or small. Doesn’t matter.

As a result of this fight, Ami and Imi stop talking to each other.

But it doesn’t end there. Ami also tells all her friends to stop talking to Imi. If the friends don’t listen to Ami, Ami will stop talking to them too. So, if they have to go on being friends with Ami, they have to stop talking to Imi.

Now, Ami is a very popular person, and almost everyone in the colony stops talking to Imi as a result of Ami’s orders.

Imi is left alone and has no one to play with.

In this case, Ami has taken a decision and forced other people also to take certain action that she knows will hurt Imi.

We can say that Ami has imposed Sanctions on Imi.

How does this work in the real world?

America (USA) thinks that Iran is doing something that is harmful for the world. It decides to not do any trade with Iran. But just like Ami, USA goes a step further and orders all its friends and trade partners to not buy anything from Iran, otherwise they will stop trading with them.

Such an order is called a sanction against a certain country.

What happens as a result of sanctions?

Every country needs trade to earn money. That money is then spent to buy things that the country needs, but cannot produce.

Obviously, if there is no money coming in, the country will slowly run out of foreign exchange with which to buy imports (things that we bring into the country from other countries).

The story of US sanctions on Iran is real. You will find many news articles about it on our website.