I have written numerous times about the many reasons that broad unilateral sanctions against Iran will not work and will likely backfire. At Peace Action West, we stumbled upon this story about a local business that would be forced to close its doors and lay off workers in the US and Iran because of the new sanctions passed in Congress' attempt to be tough on Iran. We worked with Melina Raissnia on this op-ed showing who the real victims of Iran sanctions are:
After nine years, my husband, Dodd, and I will end what we consider to be our life’s work. Our thriving San Francisco felt rug business, Peace Industry, is a casualty of recent U.S. sanctions that include a ban on the import of rugs and other goods from Iran.
When Dodd and I set off to his homeland in 2001 in search of felt rugs, we found an Iranian tradition on the verge of extinction with virtually no written history. Within several months of that first trip, we found a handful of individuals who were still making small felt rugs. We opened a tiny shop on the outskirts of Point Reyes, which doubled as our home and supported us as we put together our workshop in Iran. It was hard work but very rewarding.
We opened our first San Francisco shop in 2005, and it grew quickly. Our work has helped preserve the humble felt rug tradition in Iran, bringing it to the wider world at a time when most of what we hear about Iran is negative.
The Iranians we have gotten to know over the years are average working people making the best of a difficult life. They are extremely grateful for the business and routinely express their love of America and Americans.
Read the rest here.