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<p>Iran is a clear obstacle to U.S. hegemony in the Middle East. Iran has embraced a balancing role to the United States, and has survived (and even thrived) in spite of heavy international pressure to adhere to international norms. This international pressure is largely directed against Irans lack of transparency in regard to its nuclear program. Iran has faced unilateral U.S. sanctions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. One of the arguments in favor of imposing sanctions on states outside international norms is the desire to effect change upon the targeted state. This thesis explores the relation between sanctions imposed on Iran, the rise of the Iranian reform movement and the resurgence of conservatives. By exploring the relationship between the aforementioned variables, this thesis seeks to make a determination as to what effect sanctions had on Irans internal politics and industry, with particular focus on Irans reform movement and subsequent conservative resurgence.
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<br>Subjects: Islamic Republic; Iran; Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps; IRGC; sanctions; reform movement; Ayatollah; Supreme Leader; effects of sanctions; Iranian domestic politics; Khomeini; Khamenei; Khatami; Rafsanjani</div>
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Velazquez, Paul</div>
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