Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has been the target of extensive international sanctions, primarily led by the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations. These sanctions were initially imposed in response to the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and have since expanded significantly over the decades. The scope of these restrictions covers a wide range of sectors, including banking, energy, shipping, and defense.

Economic sanctions have been a central tool of foreign policy aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile development, and regional influence. The measures often involve freezing assets, restricting access to international financial systems like SWIFT, and placing embargoes on the sale of oil and other critical commodities. While some sanctions were lifted or suspended following the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), many were reinstated or expanded after the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018.

There is ongoing debate regarding the efficacy and humanitarian impact of these sanctions. Proponents argue that they are necessary to pressure the Iranian government to change its policies and limit its military capabilities. Conversely, critics and Iranian officials contend that the sanctions disproportionately harm the civilian population by restricting access to essential goods, including medicine and medical equipment, despite formal exemptions for humanitarian aid. The current landscape remains a patchwork of overlapping regimes, with the U.S. maintaining the most comprehensive set of unilateral sanctions, while other nations maintain more targeted restrictions focused on human rights and non-proliferation.