Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Financial sanctions and other forms of economic coercion have become policy tools of choice for the US government to deter illegal activity by international actors or to pressure governments into reversing actions that harm US interests. Yet these instruments and their potential pitfalls are often misunderstood. Restrictive economic measures such as financial sanctions, export controls, tariffs, and investment screening can play an important role in advancing certain policy objectives, but they risk being ineffective if misapplied or poorly implemented. Policymakers must also recognize the impact of economic statecraft on the private sector, which bears many of the compliance burdens and operational costs associated with these measures.

Energy Sanctions Dashboard

This dashboard focuses on US sanctions and restrictive measures placed on crude oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela—including the unintended consequences and the lessons learned.


Econographics

Apr 17, 2025

Russia Sanctions Database

By
Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Lize de Kruijf

The Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database tracks the level of coordination among Western allies in sanctioning Russian entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft, and shows where gaps still remain.

Eastern Europe
Economy & Business

Recent analysis

Skripal and beyond: The post-election Russia sanctions landscape

Econographics
Sep 16, 2025

The Supreme Court’s decision on Trump tariffs will have lasting impact on US economic statecraft

By
Stephanie Connor

Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, the case will shape US economic policy for years to come.

Economy & Business
Trade and tariffs

Skripal and beyond: The post-election Russia sanctions landscape

New Atlanticist
Mar 28, 2024

The axis of evasion: Behind China’s oil trade with Iran and Russia

By
Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze

Beijing has developed a way to import Iranian and Russian oil while bypassing the Western financial system and shipping services.

China
Economy & Business

Skripal and beyond: The post-election Russia sanctions landscape

Testimony
Feb 21, 2025

Kimberly Donovan testifies to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the Axis of Autocracy

By
Kimberly Donovan

On February 20, Economic Statecraft Initiative Director Kimberly Donovan testified to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission at a hearing titled, “An Axis of Autocracy? China’s Relations with Russia, Iran, and North Korea.”

China
Economy & Business

Programs

At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Nov 8, 2018

Skripal and beyond: The post-election Russia sanctions landscape

By Brian O'Toole

If the administration selects sanctions the Hill perceives as weak, or chooses to waive any serious impact, legislators probably would respond with a tougher combined sanctions bill than if the administration hits Russia hard.

Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Issue Brief

Nov 8, 2018

US sanctions: Using a coercive and economic tool effectively

By David Mortlock, Brian O’Toole

In recent years, US economic and financial sanctions have become favored tools of US power, having been deployed to address threats as disparate as human-rights abuses, Iranian nuclear proliferation, Russian aggression, transnational criminal activity, and the deteriorating situation in Venezuela. The Barack Obama administration, and the George W. Bush administration before it, used sanctions to […]

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Issue Brief

Nov 8, 2018

US sanctions: Using a coercive and economic tool effectively

In recent years, US economic and financial sanctions have become favored tools of US power, having been deployed to address threats as disparate as human-rights abuses, Iranian nuclear proliferation, Russian aggression, transnational criminal activity, and the deteriorating situation in Venezuela.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Event Recap

Nov 7, 2018

Roundtable with Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs

By Africa Center

On November 7, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a roundtable discussion featuring H.E. Dr. ElDirdiri Mohamed Ahmed, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Sudan, on the state of US-Sudan relations, as well as recent efforts by his government to mediate peace in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. In his remarks, […]

Africa Conflict

New Atlanticist

Nov 5, 2018

The United States snaps back sanctions on Iran. Will they bite the government in Tehran?

By David A. Wemer

The newly reinstated sanctions will target Iranian shipbuilding and shipping, oil production and sales, and banking, among other sectors.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

Issue Brief

Nov 5, 2018

How Iran will cope with US sanctions

By Holly Dagres, Barbara Slavin

As a second and more punishing wave of US sanctions hits Iran, the Islamic Republic is dusting off an old playbook for circumventing such penalties and maintaining a crucial level of oil exports and other trade.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

Issue Brief

Nov 5, 2018

How Iran will cope with US sanctions

By Holly Dagres, Barbara Slavin

As a second and more punishing wave of US sanctions hits Iran, the Islamic Republic is dusting off an old playbook for circumventing such penalties and maintaining a crucial level of oil exports and other trade. A new issue brief by Holly Dagres and Barbara Slavin—How Iran Will Cope with US Sanctions—discusses the myriad techniques […]

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

New Atlanticist

Nov 1, 2018

A look at the implications of reimposed US sanctions on Iran

By Brian O'Toole

The sanctions that snap back into place on November 5 largely mirror those that the Obama administration lifted in January 2016.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

EconoGraphics

Oct 30, 2018

SWIFTly Disconnecting Iran

By Ole Moehr

With the snapback of significant US sanctions against Iran fast approaching on November 5th, speculation is mounting over how the Trump Administration will enforce the sanctions, and how its European allies might attempt to bypass them. The previous EconoGraphic outlined how a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) may facilitate trade between European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Iran after US sanctions go back into effect. This edition of the EconoGraphic provides a primer on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) and explains why sanctioning the financial messaging service would likely cause more harm than good.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2018

The future of the dollar in a post-Iran deal World

By Michael B. Greenwald

Some argue that if Iran shifted to euro-denominated transactions, it could spark a broader shift within energy exporting countries that would eventually weaken the USD as the reserve currency, as well as undermine the impact of future unilateral US sanctions.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran
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Experts

Staff

Nitansha Bansal

Associate Director

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Fellow

Ryan Berger

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Americas Cybersecurity

Fellow

Chris Brummer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Fellow

Michael Carpenter

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center Europe Center

Eastern Europe National Security

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fellow

Claire Chu

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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