Sanctions have a far-reaching impact on society compared to military operations, affecting the lives of countless innocent people. These measures make it challenging for almost everyone in society to carry on with their daily routines, leading to a decline in their standard of living. The negative impact resulting from a shortage of crucial resources like food and medicine can persist for several decades.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) strictly prohibits any form of collective punishment. Therefore, the United States is legally prohibited from implementing policies that diminish the well-being of millions of ordinary citizens, even if the underlying objectives are legitimate. Although the U.S. claims that its sanctions do not affect ordinary citizens, this claim does not align with the actual situation on the ground. It is impossible to drastically reduce a country's income (by some estimates, to a third of its original value) and comfortably assert that its ordinary citizens will not be affected.