How Iran Adapts Itself to International Sanctions: Asianization of Trade and Economic Regionalism

In fact, a chief strategy of the Iranian government to minimise the grave economic effects of sanctions has been to shift its international trade direction from the West to the East and resort to further regional ties. In other words, the government has moved to adapt itself to the pressing circumstances by adopting a trade policy of Asianization and economic regionalism. It cannot be denied that crippling and comprehensive sanctions on Iran will inevitably adversely affect the government’s economic manoeuvrability, but taking their toll first and foremost on the people, the sanctions are likely to fall short of curbing the country’s nuclear activities or changing its domestic and international behaviour.