Foreign Policy evaluates the latest round of European Union sanctions against Iran. While recognizing that “the economic toll that U.S. and EU sanctions have taken on Iran is breathtaking,” it finds that they “are still targeted, not broad-brush measures that could grind Iran’s economy to a halt.” The magazine links the piecemeal efforts to the influence of “European doves” who, either on the basis of straightforward economic interest or out of genuine belief that carrots rather than sticks will more likely alter the Iranian decision calculus, continue to insert loopholes into sanctions and trade with Iran. Trade between European Union countries and Iran continues to stand at over €25 billion.

[Photo: RTAmerica / YouTube]