This article discusses the issue of the economic sanctions which have been unilaterally imposed on Iran by the United States of America since 1979. The USA uses this instrument with frequency, while the target countries are not in position to retaliate. The opposite is true in the case of the imposition of tariff s and traditional non-tariff barriers. The author presents the historical context of sanctions and their use as a method of influence over the Iranian regime. Additionally, the author focuses on sanctions imposed by the US government and their economic and political impact on both the target country and the United States