Sanctions are only effective because other countries agree to them. The fact that the US puts sanctions on a country, and every country agrees to stop dealing with the sanctioned country, shows that it’s not just the US’s opinion, but a collective decision. The US is extremely selective with their sanctions, because they only use them when they see that a country is risking the success of other countries.

Governments in countries such as Iran and Cuba not only cause harm to neighboring nations and the global community but also subject their own populations to oppression. The sanctions enforced by the U.S. have the potential to compel these governments to do better to help their people. Additionally, these sanctions could pave the way for a regime change, thereby fostering the growth of democracy to an entirely new level.