...It is instructive to see how such Iranian supporters of the sanctions rationalize their position.

Economic pressure on the people will be transferred to the ruling elite and change their behavior.

First of all, there is no credible evidence that this will happen. In fact, based on historical trends, both in Iran and elsewhere, the opposite is true. Not only will the hardliners not change their position as a result of the sanctions, they will almost certainly become more tightly bound to it. ...

As the government's pressure on the people increases, their protests will also increase, ultimately forcing the government to change its behavior or even change the political system.

Such an argument assumes that both the people and the government behave rationally under pressure. In fact, as Payman put it, there are two types of behavior and reactions in a pressured atmosphere. One type is emotional, or irrational. ...

There is the threat of military attacks on Iran. Economic sanctions make such attacks less likely.

This is a totally bogus argument. First, tough economic sanctions are tantamount to war. Recall that the terrible economic sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s ruined that society and caused a large number of deaths... Second, sanctions can be a prelude to military war. Iraq is again a good example. When George W. Bush was elected president, he was d... >>>