Which countries are subject to a comprehensive sanctions regime? (SelectALL that apply)
Iran
UK
Russia
Canada
Venezuela
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answers:
✅ Iran
✅ Russia
✅ Venezuela
❌ UK
❌ Canada
Explanation (Approx. 300 Words):
A comprehensive sanctions regime refers to a broad, sweeping set of restrictions imposed by a country or group of countries against another state. These sanctions typically include full trade embargoes, asset freezes, restrictions on financial transactions, travel bans, and sectoral sanctions. Comprehensive sanctions go beyond targeted or sector-specific restrictions and usually aim to isolate the sanctioned country’s entire economy or government.
✅ Iran
Iran has been subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions for decades due to concerns over its nuclear program, support for terrorism, and human rights abuses. These sanctions prohibit nearly all U.S. dealings with Iranian entities, including financial institutions, oil exports, and defense industries. Many sectors of Iran’s economy, especially banking, energy, and shipping, are effectively cut off from much of the global financial system.
✅ Russia
Since its 2014 annexation of Crimea and especially following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been subjected to an extensive array of sanctions from the U.S., EU, UK, and others. These include restrictions on banks, technology exports, individuals linked to the Kremlin, and entire sectors such as defense and energy. While not as total as Iran’s, these sanctions are among the most severe globally and are considered near-comprehensive by many analysts.
✅ Venezuela
The U.S. has imposed a near-comprehensive sanctions regime on Venezuela, particularly targeting its government, military, and state oil company PDVSA. These sanctions are meant to pressure President Nicolás Maduro to restore democratic processes. They include bans on financial transactions, asset freezes, and secondary sanctions on entities doing business with the Maduro regime.
❌ UK & Canada
Neither the United Kingdom nor Canada is subject to comprehensive international sanctions. Both are imposers, not targets, of sanctions and are part of Western alliances like NATO and the G7.
Thus, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela are correctly identified as countries under comprehensive sanctions regimes.