Iranian Research letter of International Politics

Unilateral Sanctions, Crimes Against Humanity and World Peace (Case Study of US Sanctions Against Iran)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

mehdi hatami 1
koroush ghanbari 2
Farid Azadbakht 3

1 Associate Professor in International Law, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj ,Iran.

2 PhD Candidate in international law, Kermanshah branch ،Islamic Azad University ,Kermanshah ,Iran, (Corresponding author).

3 Assistant professor, Department of law, Kermanshah branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah ,Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2026.89356.1558
Abstract
U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran conflict with the fundamental principles of international law and the provisions of the UN Charter, lacking legal legitimacy. Under the collective security system, the determination of threats to peace and the imposition of coercive measures fall within the exclusive authority of the Security Council, and any unilateral action outside this framework violates state sovereignty and equality. Sanctions, particularly when extraterritorial, infringe upon fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, and an adequate standard of living, while also limiting the right to development. By weakening domestic stability, exacerbating humanitarian crises, and destabilizing the region, such measures constitute a threat to international peace and security. Peace achieved through human rights violations is fragile and unsustainable. In sum, U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran violate human rights and undermine the collective security system of the UN, posing a serious threat to the rule of law and lasting peace.

Highlights

1. Aghaei, S, D & Rahimzadeh, A.The function of international peace and security in the
shadow of threatening factors in the world system. Scientific Quarterly of Jurisprudence
and Modern Law,. 2( 7) (in persian).
2. Ashrafi, D. (Spring 2014). A new interpretation of international peace and security and
its impact on the concept of national sovereignty. Quarterly Journal of Public Law Research,
15 (42). (in persian).
3. Askari, P & Khosravi, Y. ( 2016). The necessity and requirements of peace studies in international
law. International Relations Research. 11(22). (in persian).
4. Bird,Annie,(2010),”Third State Responsibility for Human Rights Violations”,EJIL, 21(4),
32-36. (in English).
5. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 1979.
(in English).
6. Convention on the Rights of the Child,.1989. (in English).
7. Declaration of the President of the Security Council , s/23500.january.1992. (in English).
8. Emadi, S, Mohsen. ( Spring 2012). The impact of economic sanctions of the United Nations
Security Council on the enjoyment of human rights. Foreign Policy Quarterly.
26(1). (in persian).
9. Falsafi, H.(2005). The Sequence of international treaties related to human rights,
coexistence and conflict of obligations of states. Iranian Yearbook of Comparative
International Law. No 1. (in persian).
10. Farrokh Siri, M. ( 2008). Legal limitations of the Security Council in imposing economic
sanctions. International Law Journal. 25(39). (in persian).
11. Fouladi, R. ( 2017). International responsibility of states for unilateral sanctions
against countries. Master’s Thesis in International Law, Payam Noor University,
South Tehran Center. (in persian).
12. General comment NO.8: The relationship between economic sanctions and respect
for economic ,social and cultural rights1997. (in English).
13. Gharibabadi, K. ( 2017). Unilateral sanctions and international law ( Case study: Islamic
Republic of Iran). PhD thesis in international law, Allameh Tabatabaei University
Campus. (in persian).
14. Ghavam, S, A, A & Mohseni, S.( Winter 2016). The capacity of international relations
theories to create interaction and convergence with international law. International
Relations Research Quarterly. 1(18). (in persian).
15. Heydari, S. ( 2015). International sanctions and violation of fundamental human rights.
Master’s Thesis in International Law. Shahid Ashrafi Isfahani University.(in persian).
16. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racal Discriminaتحری
tion.1965.(in English).
17. International covenant on civil and political rights 1966. (in English).
18. Madani, S, J. ( 2008). Public international law and international relations. Paydar. ( in
persian).
19. Mehraban, A. ( Summer 2019). The relationship between threats and damages in the
field of national security with a view to sanctions ( a case study of the sanctions resolution
against the Islamic Republic of Iran). Strategic Defense Studies Quarterly.
17(76). Article 7. (in persian).
20. Mousavi, S, F & Jokar, F. ( 2014). The unilateral US sanctions against Iran: contradictions
in words and actions, politicization of human rights. Quarterly of Public Law
Research. No. 16 (44). (in persian).
21. Postinchi, Z & Mohsenifard, F. ( Summer 2013). Economic sanctions as a tool of coercive
diplomacy in international politics. Quarterly Journal of International Relations
Research. 3( 8). (in persian).
22. Rashidi, M. ( 2015). Iran’s oil sanctions from the perspective of international law. Master’s
Thesis in International Law. Qom University.(in persian).
23. Samadi, Masoud. ( Spring and Summer 2014). The illegitimacy of unilateral actions of
governments in imposing sanctions in light of international conventions and human
rights documents. Bar Association. Nos. 34 and 33. (in persian).
24. Taghavi Nejad, Seyed Soleiman. ( 2018). US Unilateral sanctions against Iran from the
perspective of international law. Second National Conference on Modern Research in
Management and Law. July 21, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun Branch. (in persian).
25. UNCTAD Resolution152(IV).2 july1983. (in English).
26. Universal Declaration of Human Rights.1948:preamble. (in English).
27. Vakil, Amir Saed. ( 2012.Human rights, peace and international security. Majd Publications.
(in persian).
28. Zamani, Seyed Ghasem & Mazaheri, Jamshid. ( 2011). Smart sanctions of the security
council in the light of resolution 1929: Preservation or hope for peace? International
Legal Journal, Publication of the Presidential Center for International Legal Affairs.
26 (44). (in persian).
29. Zamani, Seyed Ghasem & Negneh Shahraki, Jafar. ( Summer 2013) International sanctions
violating human rights from the challenge of legal legitimacy to international
responsibility. Strategy. No. 67. (in persian).

Keywords

Unilateral sanctions
public international law
human rights
international peace and security
sovereignty and national development
1. Aghaei, S, D & Rahimzadeh, A.The function of international peace and security in the
shadow of threatening factors in the world system. Scientific Quarterly of Jurisprudence
and Modern Law,. 2( 7) (in persian).
2. Ashrafi, D. (Spring 2014). A new interpretation of international peace and security and
its impact on the concept of national sovereignty. Quarterly Journal of Public Law Research,
15 (42). (in persian).
3. Askari, P & Khosravi, Y. ( 2016). The necessity and requirements of peace studies in international
law. International Relations Research. 11(22). (in persian).
4. Bird,Annie,(2010),”Third State Responsibility for Human Rights Violations”,EJIL, 21(4),
32-36. (in English).
5. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 1979.
(in English).
6. Convention on the Rights of the Child,.1989. (in English).
7. Declaration of the President of the Security Council , s/23500.january.1992. (in English).
8. Emadi, S, Mohsen. ( Spring 2012). The impact of economic sanctions of the United Nations
Security Council on the enjoyment of human rights. Foreign Policy Quarterly.
26(1). (in persian).
9. Falsafi, H.(2005). The Sequence of international treaties related to human rights,
coexistence and conflict of obligations of states. Iranian Yearbook of Comparative
International Law. No 1. (in persian).
10. Farrokh Siri, M. ( 2008). Legal limitations of the Security Council in imposing economic
sanctions. International Law Journal. 25(39). (in persian).
11. Fouladi, R. ( 2017). International responsibility of states for unilateral sanctions
against countries. Master’s Thesis in International Law, Payam Noor University,
South Tehran Center. (in persian).
12. General comment NO.8: The relationship between economic sanctions and respect
for economic ,social and cultural rights1997. (in English).
13. Gharibabadi, K. ( 2017). Unilateral sanctions and international law ( Case study: Islamic
Republic of Iran). PhD thesis in international law, Allameh Tabatabaei University
Campus. (in persian).
14. Ghavam, S, A, A & Mohseni, S.( Winter 2016). The capacity of international relations
theories to create interaction and convergence with international law. International
Relations Research Quarterly. 1(18). (in persian).
15. Heydari, S. ( 2015). International sanctions and violation of fundamental human rights.
Master’s Thesis in International Law. Shahid Ashrafi Isfahani University.(in persian).
16. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racal Discriminaتحری
tion.1965.(in English).
17. International covenant on civil and political rights 1966. (in English).
18. Madani, S, J. ( 2008). Public international law and international relations. Paydar. ( in
persian).
19. Mehraban, A. ( Summer 2019). The relationship between threats and damages in the
field of national security with a view to sanctions ( a case study of the sanctions resolution
against the Islamic Republic of Iran). Strategic Defense Studies Quarterly.
17(76). Article 7. (in persian).
20. Mousavi, S, F & Jokar, F. ( 2014). The unilateral US sanctions against Iran: contradictions
in words and actions, politicization of human rights. Quarterly of Public Law
Research. No. 16 (44). (in persian).
21. Postinchi, Z & Mohsenifard, F. ( Summer 2013). Economic sanctions as a tool of coercive
diplomacy in international politics. Quarterly Journal of International Relations
Research. 3( 8). (in persian).
22. Rashidi, M. ( 2015). Iran’s oil sanctions from the perspective of international law. Master’s
Thesis in International Law. Qom University.(in persian).
23. Samadi, Masoud. ( Spring and Summer 2014). The illegitimacy of unilateral actions of
governments in imposing sanctions in light of international conventions and human
rights documents. Bar Association. Nos. 34 and 33. (in persian).
24. Taghavi Nejad, Seyed Soleiman. ( 2018). US Unilateral sanctions against Iran from the
perspective of international law. Second National Conference on Modern Research in
Management and Law. July 21, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun Branch. (in persian).
25. UNCTAD Resolution152(IV).2 july1983. (in English).
26. Universal Declaration of Human Rights.1948:preamble. (in English).
27. Vakil, Amir Saed. ( 2012.Human rights, peace and international security. Majd Publications.
(in persian).
28. Zamani, Seyed Ghasem & Mazaheri, Jamshid. ( 2011). Smart sanctions of the security
council in the light of resolution 1929: Preservation or hope for peace? International
Legal Journal, Publication of the Presidential Center for International Legal Affairs.
26 (44). (in persian).
29. Zamani, Seyed Ghasem & Negneh Shahraki, Jafar. ( Summer 2013) International sanctions
violating human rights from the challenge of legal legitimacy to international
responsibility. Strategy. No. 67. (in persian).
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  • Receive Date 14 August 2024
  • Revise Date 21 October 2024
  • Accept Date 22 February 2026

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