National Security & Defense

Cutting off the supply of dollars is hardly a death sentence. Internationally, a sanction is just a boycott. Countries are free to ignore it or impose their own sanctions.

The Syria, Iraq and Yemen sanctions involve Iran's proxies in ongoing conflicts. Like it or not, the US designates Iran as a state sponsor of terror and can make that label stick.

The Libya sanctions target warlords fighting over a failed state. That includes Khalifa Haftar, a US citizen wanted for crimes against humanity.

The DRC is yet another war-torn country. US Treasury has sanctions targeting key belligerents and the illegal trade in conflict gold.