--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We believe that unilateral sanctions…" description: "\"We believe that unilateral sanctions violate international law, in fact. They violate free trade. They violate human growth and development, human deve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/hassan-rouhani-11458_actually_we-believe-that-unilateral-sanctions-vio_1378841.png" --- # We believe that unilateral sanctions violate international… ![“We believe that unilateral sanctions violate international law, in fact. They violate free trade. They violate human growth and development, human development, and that when you actually sanction a bank of a country, the meaning of it is quite clear. You're sanctioning medicine for the people.” quote by Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/hassan-rouhani-11458_actually_we-believe-that-unilateral-sanctions-vio_1378841.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/hassan-rouhani-11458_actually_we-believe-that-unilateral-sanctions-vio_1378841.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/hassan-rouhani-11458_actually_we-believe-that-unilateral-sanctions-vio_1378841.png) > “We believe that unilateral sanctions violate international law, in fact. They violate free trade. They violate human growth and development, human development, and that when you actually sanction a bank of a country, the meaning of it is quite clear. You're sanctioning medicine for the people.” [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that unilateral sanctions breach international law, free trade, and harm human development, especially by restricting medicine. **In simple terms:** Sanctions break law, hurt trade, and block medicine. Key Takeaway Consider the humanitarian impact of economic penalties. Themes law human rights economics health policy Mood critical concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - government negotiations - humanitarian aid - public health policy - economic sanctions Key Concepts sanctions international law trade barriers Questions to Reflect On - Are there circumstances where sanctions are justified? - How can humanitarian exemptions be enforced? A Different Perspective Sanctions can sometimes be used to pressure regimes for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Bank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bank/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [For the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/for-the-people/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-trade/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth And Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-and-development/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-development/) [In fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-fact/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [International law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-law/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite/) [Sanction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanction/) [Sanctioning Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctioning-medicine-4770879/) [Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions/) [Sanctions Violate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions-violate-4770877/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trade Violate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade-violate-4770878/) [Unilateral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unilateral/) [Unilateral Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unilateral-sanctions-1539676/) [Violate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violate/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/opponents-of-u-s-sanctions-have-made-unilateral-sanctions-their/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [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 Hassan Rouhani > [No country by itself and in an isolated manner would ever be able to effectively address the challenges it faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/no-country-by-itself-and-in-an-isolated-manner-would-ever-be-able-to/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [The Iranian people, with regards to the policies of various American administrations in the past 30 years, are very worried. They don't trust them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/the-iranian-people-with-regards-to-the-policies-of-various-american/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [Iranians embraced my approach to domestic and international affairs because they saw it as long overdue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/iranians-embraced-my-approach-to-domestic-and-international-affairs/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [In a climate where much of foreign policy is a direct function of domestic politics, focusing on what one doesn't want is an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/in-a-climate-where-much-of-foreign-policy-is-a-direct-function-of/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [The people, when they say 'Death to America!' - do you know what they are really saying? What they mean to say relates to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/the-people-when-they-say-death-to-america-do-you-know-what-they-are/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [International politics is no longer a zero-sum game but a multi-dimensional arena where cooperation and competition often occur simultaneously. Gone is the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/international-politics-is-no-longer-a-zero-sum-game-but-a-multi/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [Iran rejects weapons of mass destruction based on its belief system, its religious belief system, as well as well as its ethical standpoint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/iran-rejects-weapons-of-mass-destruction-based-on-its-belief-system/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [All countries in my part of the world, we want democracy to prevail. I told the people, 'If you want American policies to stop,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/all-countries-in-my-part-of-the-world-we-want-democracy-to-prevail-i/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [We cannot pick a lifestyle and tell two generations after us to live like that. It is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/we-cannot-pick-a-lifestyle-and-tell-two-generations-after-us-to-live/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [The Americans have claimed they want to completely stop Iran's oil exports. They don't understand the meaning of this statement, because it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/the-americans-have-claimed-they-want-to-completely-stop-iran-s-oil/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [Citizenship rights is about making all Iranians feel they are part of one nation, one identity, under one umbrella they can feel proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/citizenship-rights-is-about-making-all-iranians-feel-they-are-part-of/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [To us, mastering the atomic fuel cycle and generating nuclear power is as much about diversifying our energy resources as it is about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/to-us-mastering-the-atomic-fuel-cycle-and-generating-nuclear-power-is/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [A constructive approach to diplomacy doesnt mean relinquishing ones rights. It means engaging with ones counterparts, on the basis of equal footing and mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/a-constructive-approach-to-diplomacy-doesnt-mean-relinquishing-ones/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [We are always in favour of diplomacy and talks... but talks need honesty. Trump's call for direct talks is only for domestic consumption in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/we-are-always-in-favour-of-diplomacy-and-talks-but-talks-need-honesty/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [We will not negotiate with anyone about our weapons and defenses, and we will make and store as many weapons, facilities, and missiles as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/we-will-not-negotiate-with-anyone-about-our-weapons-and-defenses-and/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) [Explore all 60 Hassan Rouhani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) [Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We believe that unilateral sanctions violate international law, in fact. 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