Iran success may broaden global sanctions
Significance Agreement between Iran and the P5+1 (France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and the United States) on the former's nuclear programme in July 2015 has been heralded as a success for economic sanctions. They had a considerable economic impact and created a window of opportunity for negotiation. However, each sanctions regime must be considered on a case-by-case basis. Impacts Sanctions will require more systematic assessments of negative side-effects if they are to remain a viable foreign policy tool. Similar success with North Korea is unlikely owing to its commercial and political isolation, and China's support for the regime. Russia is also less likely than Iran to bend to EU sanctions given difficulties maintaining unity within the EU. Russia's ability to diversify trade partners and create domestic alternatives also make sanctions less likely to be effective. Sanctions on Syria are unlikely to succeed owing to the low success rates of sanctions in resolving armed conflicts.