Al Jazeera Centre for Studies and the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University organised a seminar in collaboration with Al Jazeera Mubasher on Tuesday, 30 October 2018 entitled “U.S. Sanctions on Iran: Future Prospects”.
The seminar discussed the repercussions of U.S. sanctions on Iran both internally and externally, and the Iranian economy's ability to withstand the sanctions. It also touched on the political and social effects of the sanctions on the state and the society, and examined whether Iran’s plans and programmes for confrontation could undermine their effects and overcome the repercussions.
Moreover, the seminar highlighted the potential impact of these sanctions on Iran's regional and international relations and influence in the region. It devoted a part of the discussions to identifying the mechanisms available to the Gulf states, Turkey and the European Union for dealing with Iran in the future while it is under sanctions.
The speakers at the seminar were:
- Ali Sarzaeem, Professor of Economics and Economic Advisor at the Center for Strategic Studies of the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Mahjoob Zweiri, Director of the Gulf Studies Center and Professor of Middle East History at Qatar University
- Fatima Alsmadi, Senior Researcher at Al Jazeera Centre for Studies specialized in Iranian affairs
- Luciano Zaccara, Research Assistant Professor in Gulf Politics at the Qatar University
- Recep Yorulmaz, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Political Sciences at Yildirim Beyazit University
The seminar ended with a number of conclusions, notably: U.S. sanctions against Iran will affect the economy and the society, but will not lead to the collapse of the state, the overthrow of the regime or the creation of a popular revolution that the regime cannot control.
In addition, the speakers at the seminar agreed that the sanctions are not likely affect Iranian foreign policy towards the region.
The speakers asserted that Iran's national security starts from outside its borders, and that Iranian leaders would maintain policies they believe protect Iran’s national security. The speakers also concluded that the economic crisis caused by the sanctions would not affect the budget allocated by Iran to achieve its national security.