Public ire one goal of Iran sanctions, U.S. official says
(Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that a U.S. intelligence official had described regime collapse as a goal of U.S. and other sanctions against Iran. An updated version clarifies the officials remarks.)
The Obama administration sees economic sanctions against Iran as building public discontent that will help compel the government to abandon an alleged nuclear weapons program, according to a senior U.S. intelligence official.
In addition to influencing Iranian leaders directly, the official said, another option here is that (sanctions) will create hate and discontent at the street level so that the Iranian leaders realize that they need to change their ways.
The intelligence officials remarks pointed to what has long been an unstated reality of sanctions: Although designed to pressure a government to change its policies, they often impose broad hardships on a population. The official spoke this week on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration assessments.
The comments came as the administration readies punitive new sanctions that affect Irans central bank and the European Union moves toward strict curbs on Iranian oil imports.
full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/goal-of-iran-sanctions-is-regime-collapse-us-official-says/2012/01/10/gIQA0KJsoP_singlePage.html
jakeXT
(10,575 posts)Hyperinflation has struck again, this time at ground zero of the most sensitive geopolitical conflict in ages: Iran. EA WorldView reports:
An EA source reports that a relative in Tehran ordered a washing machine for 400,000 Toman (about $240) this week. When he went to the shop the next day, he was told that --- amidst the currency crisis and rising import costs --- the price was now 800,000 Toman (about $480). Another EA source says that the price of an item of software for a laptop computer has tripled from 50,000 Toman to 150,000 Toman within days.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/hyperinflation-comes-iran
DCBob
(24,689 posts)"Bomb, bomb, bomb" Iran is what Republicans would prefer. That would be insane... imo.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)So far I can't see that it's done shit except to shore up support for what is otherwise a shitty reactionary government.