Summary

The Special Rapporteur undertook an official country visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 7 to 18 May 2022 to examine the impact of unilateral sanctions on the enjoyment of human rights in the country, and the right to development. She concludes that sanctions, secondary sanctions and different forms of over-compliance have a serious negative impact on the country’s economy, leading to serious violations of human rights and humanitarian challenges, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She concludes that the use of unilateral sanctions, secondary sanctions and over-compliance has an overall adverse effect on the broad spectrum of human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural, including the right to life and the right to development. She recommends lifting unilateral sanctions, to avoid de-risking policies and over-compliance in accordance with international legal norms and the due diligence rule and calls on international community and humanitarian actors to assist the Government of Iran in its efforts to mitigate the adverse humanitarian impact of unilateral coercive measures.