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Current U.N. and U.S. sanctions against Iran have reduced Iran's economic contact with other nations, weakening the Iranian economy and ordinary Iranians' standard of living. Broad-based sanctions certainly have amplified the regime's unpopularity, with economic deprivation fueling public protests. The widespread dissent may, in the long run, bring regime change.

But the current sanctions have not curbed the regime's internal oppression and international adventurism, including its nuclear program and support of terrorism. This failure has occurred because broad economic sanctions have not directly curtailed the lavish lifestyles of those in power.