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Comprehensive embargo -

There are four nations under a comprehensive embargo by the United States government. This means that there are comprehensive restrictions in terms of imports and exports, as well as financial transactions.

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Cuba -

The first nation under a comprehensive embargo by the United States is Cuba. In February 1962, then-US President John F. Kennedy issued a total embargo on trade between the countries.

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No commercial activity with Cuba -

What does this mean? In terms of economic relations with Cuba, the United States government prevents any US business from conducting any trade or commercial activity with the nation.

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Iran -

The second nation under a comprehensive embargo by the United States is Iran. Iran has experienced economic sanctions from the US government since 1979, following the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran.

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Nuclear technology -

Throughout the 2000s, the United States, in conjunction with the United Nations Security Council, issued a set of resolutions focused on Iran’s access and use of nuclear technology. Pictured is the nation's first nuclear power plant, located on the Persian Gulf. 

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Sanctions in 2010 -

This effort was largely futile in terms of long-term domestic and foreign policy changes in Iran. Therefore, in 2010, the US issued a new set of sanctions, which sought to pressure foreign companies, including banks, to withdraw entirely from the nation.

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Purchasing oil from Iran -

In 2012, the US focused particularly on creating additional pressure on Iran, targeting those purchasing Iranian oil. This effort was successful, forcing a decline of 1.4 million barrels per day.

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Nations agreed on a plan -

In 2013, Iran caved under the pressure of the US government’s efforts, and the nations agreed on a plan that would suspend escalating sanctions that had crumbled the Iranian economy. The agreement includes an exchange for Iran essentially seizing nuclear activities, but the initial sanctions remain in place.

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North Korea -

The third nation under a comprehensive embargo by the United States is North Korea. The nation first experienced sanctions in 2006,  issued by the UN Security Council following North Korea’s first nuclear tests.

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Escalation of sanctions -

These sanctions were escalated in 2013 through Resolution 2094. This set of sanctions was issued following North Korea’s third nuclear test in February 2013. These sanctions were further tightened in 2016.

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Nuclear capacities -

Since then, there have been a series of more comprehensive sanctions against the nation, primarily targeting its nuclear capacity and development activities. These were extended to oil imports in 2017.

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Unilateral sanctions -

Each sanction issued by the UN Security Council has condemned the development of nuclear technology. The US has also issued unilateral sanctions against the country, prohibiting economic activities with North Korea.

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Extending sanctions to China and Russia -

Sanctions targeting North Korea have also extended to Chinese and Russian banks and companies, as well as prominent individuals that, according to the US, support the nation’s weapons program.

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Syria -

The fourth nation under a comprehensive embargo from the United States is Syria. Syria experienced a mass civil war starting in 2011, following the beginning of the Arab Spring.

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Refugee crisis -

The population attempted to oust its authoritarian leader, Bashar al-Assad, but they were met with mass violence that provoked one of the worst refugee crises in recent history.

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Sanctions issued -

In response, the US government issued a series of sanctions against the Syrian government. A number of executive orders were issued targeting economic activities of any kind with the country.

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Supporting democratic transition -

Since the fall of the regime in December 2024, several sanctions have been lifted by American allies, such as the European Union, to support the nation’s democratic transition, but a number of restrictive measures remain in place.

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Targeted sanction programs -

There are also a number of countries that are under what are referred to as targeted sanction programs. This means that, unlike comprehensive embargoes, sanctions are limited to particular financial transactions.

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List of nations -

The list of nations under targeted sanction programs includes: Belarus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Libya, Nicaragua, Russia, Ukraine, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

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Belarus -

There are a number of sanctions against Belarus issued by the US and its allies. Largely, these sanctions were a response to the domestic repression in Belarus and the nation’s military support for Russian forces in Ukraine.

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Democratic Republic of Congo -

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been a number of sanctions issued in an attempt to halt the violence that is taking place in the country. The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and an arms embargo.

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Iraq and Libya -

In Iraq, sanctions were mostly issued around the start of the Gulf War and remain ongoing. Similarly, in Libya, sanctions were issued against the nation following the Arab Spring, targeting the now deceased leader Gaddafi.

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Nicaragua -

While there are now no active UN sanctions targeting Nicaragua, the European Union and the United States have a number of targeted asset freezes and travel bans issued against countries responsible for human rights violations.

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Russia -

Sanctions have regularly been imposed on Russia since the nation’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. These sanctions were expanded following the invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022.

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Somalia -

Somalia has been under sanctions since 1992, following the fall of President Said Barre. In Sudan, sanctions have been active since the eruption of mass violence in Darfur in 2004.

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Venezuela and Zimbabwe -

Sanctions issued against Venezuela are unilateral, as there are no active UN sanctions on the nation. Similarly, in Zimbabwe, there are also no active UN sanctions, but there are a number from individual nations due to human rights violations.

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Transfer of military or space technology -

Finally, there are also a number of countries that are under particular sanctions, in which the transfer of military or space technology is explicitly prohibited. Do you know which nations are on this list?

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List of nations -

In addition to the nations listed in previous slides, the list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar (also known as Burma), China, Cyprus, Eritrea, Fiji, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Yemen.

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ITAR -

While there are unilateral sanctions, this kind of embargo is set by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). These are regulations issued by the US Department of State that focus on the export of military items.

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ENMOD -

There is another set of sanctions that is issued by the United Nations under the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD).

Sources: (Center on Global Energy Policy) (Council on Foreign Relations) (European Council of the European Union) (US Department of State) (Global Sanctions) (University at Buffalo, Research and Economic Development) (Oregon State University)

See also: North Korea acknowledges its military support of Russia in Ukraine for the first time

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