Sanctions on Iraq and Iran: Policy Recommendations - Research Paper Example

Sanctions on Iraq and Iran: Policy Recommendations Introduction According to The United s (2008), the human rights situation in Iran is direr than before, and the country has the highest per capita execution rate in the world. At the same time, the current crisis in the region, including the apparently growing influence of Iran in Iraq and Syria, and the growing threat of Islamic extremism is alarming. Broad international sanctions placed on Iran between 2010 and 2013 harmed Irans economy and undoubtedly contributed to Irans acceptance of the agreements that exchanged constraints on its nuclear program for sanctions relief. On the other hand, economic sanctions in Iraq have negatively influenced scores of innocent citizens by limiting the availability of food and medicines and disrupting the whole economy, impoverishing Iraqi citizens while depriving them of their need for income. As well as reducing the national water treatment capacity, electrical systems and other infrastructure critical to life and health (Alnasrawi, 2002). The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have positioned American troops along Irans borders, making the United States and Iran wary competitors and neighbors who nonetheless possess overlapping interests. Clearly, contending with Iran will be one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing future U.S. administrations. This informative report, which incited sharp debate in Washington and extensive coverage by U.S. and international media, offers a timely new approach policy-wise for Iran. Similarly, Some UN and other agencies have called on the Security Council to modify Iraq sanctions thoroughly. Two most respected UN humanitarian coordinators have resigned in protest, arguing for a stop to the punitive sanctions (Gordon, 2010). Journalists, religious leaders, NGOs, diplomats, health authorities, human rights organizations, parliamentarians and citizens have joined in a compelling call for change. Policy Recommendations for Iraq Foreign assets of Iraq must be unfrozen to normalize its external economic relations apparently, though; such change will not lack risks. The government of Iraq cannot be counted on to make benign and peaceful policy choices, or to promote the well-being of its people automatically. The Government of Iraq must offer firm assurances to the international community, as a part of reciprocal undertakings. A new policy that will honor minority rights; including providing special status to the Kurdish areas, and it will take steps to honor its human rights obligations If the government of Iraq fails to provide adequate means for inspection and arms control, in future. Then narrowly targeted sanctions, including travel and financial penalties, should be directed at Iraqs leaders. Explicit criteria for lifting must also be part of the new sanctions regime "No-Fly zones" must be removed and aerial attacks and threats halted, and Unilateral military assaults, as a means towards "regime change," should be pronounced as illegal and unacceptable (Gordon, 2010). Other efforts directed towards "regime change," including military aid to opposition forces and assassination must cease. Security Council members must find the wisdom and courage to move on, to reflect the Councils compelling accountability to the overwhelming majority of world opinion and its responsibility (Tonstad, 2007). Policy Recommendations for Iran Strengthen enforcement new international law Develop model national to criminalize, deter, and detect nuclear proliferation under UN Security Council Resolution 1540. Sanctions imposed the UN, EU and US will be lifted as Irans compliance is verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and above $100bn (£64bn) in assets frozen abroad will be let out. In case any aspect of the deal is broken, the sanctions will snap back The UK government will engage with Irans democratic opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The support of the ten-point platform of the NCRI President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, which calls for a democratic and non-nuclear Iran with separation of religion and state, gender equality and elimination of all religious and ethnic discrimination. According to The United States (2008), declaration of Camp Liberty as a refugee camp under the auspices of the UN and the UN Refugee Agency. The UNHCR must make sure that the residents, who are recognized are Asylum Seekers, Protected Persons under the 4th Geneva Convention and Persons of concern to the UNHCR, should be delivered refugee ID cards without any sluggish actions since this will prevent further bloodshed and another humanitarian catastrophe and at Camp Liberty. Changed policies The elimination of all arms of mass destruction and objectives of disarmament, more military weaponry, are targeted worthy of support. Maintaining of the UN escrow account that all oil revenues must be deposited has been an essential tool to contain and control the economy of Iraq. The retention of the escrow account shows delays and bureaucratic red tape that will hamper the functioning of the economy, therefore, should be terminated. Iran will have to reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium used to make reactor fuel, but also nuclear weapons - by 98% to 300kg (660lb) for 15 years. It will also cut by two-thirds to 5,060 the number of centrifuges installed to enrich uranium for a decade. The Council discontinued the Development Fund for Iraq, which channeled export income towards development priorities. With its unanimous adoption of resolution 1956, it decided to terminate, on 30 June 2011, all methods of depositing into the Fund proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas Oil-for-Food sought to deal with the strongest objections, by letting Iraq commoditize oil for the purchase of some humanitarian resources. However, it was designed as a short-term policy. The Council also took the residual activities of the oil-for-food program, which had previously allowed Iraq to purchase humanitarian supplies during the sanctions regime, Conclusion The mentioned policies if implemented will have the best solution. On the contrary, Tehrans regime and its suppressive paramilitary force Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), will use the sanctions to move more quickly and decisively. They will then export terrorism abroad and advance their deadly plots against the members of Iranian democratic opposition in Camp Liberty, Iraq and increase the domestic repression to silence the growing popular dissent at home, thus guaranteeing its survival. Any steps that will immediately lower the suffering of Iraqis and the terror in Iran must not be rejected at all cost. However, this research analysis has shown reservations about the smart sanctions capability to address the humanitarian problem in Iraq with any significance. While the proposed changes may cause improvements for the Iraq citizens and when more details of the plans are released this can be better ascertained (Kenkyū, 1997). It is apparent that they do not equate to the radical changes in policy towards Iraq that are needed to address one of the most serious humanitarian and political crises in recent history. References Gordon, J. (2010). Invisible War: The United States and the Iraq Sanctions. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press Tonstad, K. (2007). Child protection in war-zone Iraq: Recommendations for policy and practice. Cambridge, Mass: John F. Kennedy School of Government Institute of Policy Studies (Singapore), United Nations Institute for Training and Research, & Sōgō Kenkyū Kaihatsu Kikō (Japan). (1997). Humanitarian action and peace-keeping Operations: Debriefing and Lessons: report and recommendations of the International Conference, Singapore, February 1997. London: Kluwer Law International. Alnasrawi, A. (2002). Iraqs burdens: Oil, sanctions, and underdevelopment. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. The United States. (2008). Iran sanctions and regional security: Hearing before the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, October 23, 2007. Washington: U.S. G.P.O. Read More