TCCIM Member Reviews Impact of Sanctions on SMEs

There have been three views on the impact of sanctions in the economic discourse of policymakers over the past years; one group believes that sanctions have no effect, what so ever; the second group says the sanctions have little effect on the economy, and the third group of policymakers is of the opinion that the sanctions have significant impact on the economy. The US government claims that the sanctions imposed on Iran are the most punishing in the history. Mehrad Ebad, a senior member of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture prefaced his write-up for the chamber's website with this note. Below is a translation of the text.
Economic sanctions against Iran began at the beginning of the Islamic Revolution after Iran hostage crisis of 1979 and continued into the Iran-Iraq War. Brutal sanctions were imposed against Iran during the presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Sanctions were eased during the administration of Mohammad Khatami, but regained steam during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In 2006, the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council against Iran were approved and the sanctions became stricter. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action made a dent in the sanctions, but with Donald Trump in office, they were reinstated and have continued so far. 
Young entrepreneurs, those who started their businesses during the past 15 years, faced new rounds of sanction over the time. When the JCPOA was signed, international trade almost returned to a semi-normal state for Iranians for a year. As a result, the private sector saw a relative stability in the business environment; international transactions were carried out directly, banking ties were established and, like in any other country, money could be transferred easily through the banking system.