--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made…" description: "\"Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made 'unilateral sanctions' their special target. They argue that sanctions observed by many nations would be much mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/elliott-abrams-1577_argue_opponents-of-u-s-sanctions-have-made-uni_3222981.jpg" --- # Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made 'unilateral… ![“Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made 'unilateral sanctions' their special target. They argue that sanctions observed by many nations would be much more effective. True enough. Far better for trade with an outlaw regime to be restricted by many nations than by just one.” quote by Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/elliott-abrams-1577_argue_opponents-of-u-s-sanctions-have-made-uni_3222981.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/elliott-abrams-1577_argue_opponents-of-u-s-sanctions-have-made-uni_3222981.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/elliott-abrams-1577_argue_opponents-of-u-s-sanctions-have-made-uni_3222981.jpg) > “Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made 'unilateral sanctions' their special target. They argue that sanctions observed by many nations would be much more effective. True enough. Far better for trade with an outlaw regime to be restricted by many nations than by just one.” [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sanctions are more powerful when many countries act together rather than a single nation acting alone. **In simple terms:** Collective sanctions work better than unilateral ones. Key Takeaway Promote multilateral sanctions. Themes foreign policy sanctions multilateralism Mood cautious strategic Type policy analysis When to use this quote - trade negotiations - human rights enforcement - diplomatic strategy Key Concepts International law economic pressure Questions to Reflect On - How can nations coordinate sanctions effectively? - What are the risks of over‑reliance on multilateral actions? A Different Perspective Unilateral sanctions can still be useful in emergencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effective/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-one/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Observed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observed/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Opponents Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents-sanctions-6066402/) [Outlaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlaw/) [Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime/) [Restricted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restricted/) [Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions/) [Sanctions Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions-special-6066403/) [Sanctions Unilateral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions-unilateral-6066401/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Unilateral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unilateral/) [Unilateral Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unilateral-sanctions-1539676/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [We believe that unilateral sanctions violate international law, in fact. They violate free trade. They violate human growth and development, human development, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/we-believe-that-unilateral-sanctions-violate-international-law-in/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [Unilateral sanctions on Cuba have been oppressive and largely ineffective, and that's why the public largely supports lifting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/unilateral-sanctions-on-cuba-have-been-oppressive-and-largely/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [The United States has been locked in an escalating confrontation with Iran ever since President Trump decided to pull out of the nuclear deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-boot/the-united-states-has-been-locked-in-an-escalating-confrontation-with/) [Max Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-boot/) > [Attempts to settle crises by unilateral sanctions outside the framework of U.N. Security Council decisions threaten international peace and stability. Such attempts are counterproductive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lavrov/attempts-to-settle-crises-by-unilateral-sanctions-outside-the/) [Sergei Lavrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lavrov/) > [Desert Storm created the pattern for the American way of war that eventually prevailed in Kosovo. America learned from Vietnam that unilateral use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/desert-storm-created-the-pattern-for-the-american-way-of-war-that/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [We are distressed by the unilateral actions of those provinces that are clearly determined to redefine what our common faith was once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-akinola/we-are-distressed-by-the-unilateral-actions-of-those-provinces-that/) [Peter Akinola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-akinola/) > [ \[With respect to child custody\] a woman has no right to a unilateral choice that affects the rest of a man's life any more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/with-respect-to-child-custody-a-woman-has-no-right-to-a-unilateral/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Most of the international community, most of the countries around the world, don't want any side, any party to take unilateral steps. They would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvan-shalom/most-of-the-international-community-most-of-the-countries-around-the/) [Silvan Shalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvan-shalom/) > [Unilateral preemption should not in any way be the model for how we conduct international relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/unilateral-preemption-should-not-in-any-way-be-the-model-for-how-we/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Neither the United States nor Israel has the capacity to impose a unilateral solution in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/neither-the-united-states-nor-israel-has-the-capacity-to-impose-a/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [If mutual respect does derive from unilateral respect, it does so by opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/if-mutual-respect-does-derive-from-unilateral-respect-it-does-so-by/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [If a woman makes a unilateral decision to bring pregnancy to term, and the biological father does not, and cannot, share in this decision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/if-a-woman-makes-a-unilateral-decision-to-bring-pregnancy-to-term-and/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [Unilateral divorce has decreased the bargaining power of the person who wants the marriage to last and has not engaged in behavior that meets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/unilateral-divorce-has-decreased-the-bargaining-power-of-the-person/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Since January 2003, at the height of the debate on the possible unilateral strike against Iraq, I have advocated for a reinstatement of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/since-january-2003-at-the-height-of-the-debate-on-the-possible/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More by Elliott Abrams > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-story-of-the-jews-in-the-bible-is-replete-with-incidents-of-their/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [History may someday record that the Arab awakening that began with the Arab revolt of 1916 against the Ottomans ended about a century later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/history-may-someday-record-that-the-arab-awakening-that-began-with/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [From its earliest days in the nineteenth century, and until the Holocaust, the Orthodox rabbinate in eastern Europe was not enthusiastic about the Zionist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/from-its-earliest-days-in-the-nineteenth-century-and-until-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The Pope is not a political figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-pope-is-not-a-political-figure/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Israel and the Palestinians had been at the table together for decades until the Obama/Mitchell/Rahm Emanuel decision to demand a total end to Israeli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/israel-and-the-palestinians-had-been-at-the-table-together-for/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Pundits are used to analyzing the gap between what our ideals suggest and what our security interests require.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/pundits-are-used-to-analyzing-the-gap-between-what-our-ideals-suggest/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The Egyptian military and the government of Israel have long had a common interest in maintaining order and fighting terrorism in Sinai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-egyptian-military-and-the-government-of-israel-have-long-had-a/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [In 2007, early in the improbable presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, the young first-term senator began a series of foreign-policy speeches that seemed too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/in-2007-early-in-the-improbable-presidential-candidacy-of-barack/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Terrorists that kill Americans don't get released.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/terrorists-that-kill-americans-don-t-get-released/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Refusing to lift sanctions and adopting tougher rhetoric toward Iran would not be partisan issues. Plenty of Democrats think that those actions are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/refusing-to-lift-sanctions-and-adopting-tougher-rhetoric-toward-iran/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [At the height of the Cold War, when Ronald Reagan was president, the Soviets and their allies and satellites did not shirk human rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/at-the-height-of-the-cold-war-when-ronald-reagan-was-president-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I personally would not talk to a Jew for Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/i-personally-would-not-talk-to-a-jew-for-jesus/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [When freedom of the press is threatened, the United States should be leading efforts to protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/when-freedom-of-the-press-is-threatened-the-united-states-should-be/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Israel bombed the Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007. What the Syrians did in response, nothing. Israel has killed a number of terrorist leaders in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/israel-bombed-the-syrian-nuclear-reactor-in-2007-what-the-syrians-did/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) [Explore all 226 Elliott Abrams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) ## More Argue quotes > [I'd rather argue with you than kiss someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/i-d-rather-argue-with-you-than-kiss-someone-else/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I like the fact that we argue but in the end we come together again realising how much we each need the other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/i-like-the-fact-that-we-argue-but-in-the-end-we-come-together-again/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Has learned that sometimes it is just easier to agree with someone, than to argue a stupid point they think they have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/has-learned-that-sometimes-it-is-just-easier-to-agree-with-someone/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [If you dont know, please ask. If you dont agree, argue. If you dont like it, please say it. But don't sit there quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-know-please-ask-if-you-dont-agree-argue-if-you-dont-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America gave the world the notion of the melting pot - an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/america-gave-the-world-the-notion-of-the-melting-pot-an-alchemical/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [Don't worry when I argue with you. Worry when I stop because it means there's nothing left to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-worry-when-i-argue-with-you-worry-when-i-stop-because-it-means/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [“People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/people-argue-between-pele-or-maradona-di-st-fano-is-the-best-much/) [Pelé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [“The more women argue, loudly, against feminism, the more they both prove it exists and that they enjoy its hard-won privileges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-more-women-argue-loudly-against-feminism-the-more-they-both-prove/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) [Browse all 642 Argue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made 'unilateral sanctions' their special target. They argue that sanctions observed by many nations would be much more effective. True enough. 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