7. Iraq
Following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the United Nations imposed sweeping sanctions on Iraq. These remained in place until the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, severely limiting the country’s ability to trade oil and goods. While designed to curtail Saddam Hussein’s military ambitions, the sanctions contributed to widespread humanitarian crises, sparking controversy over their scale and impact compared to later programs like those imposed on Iran. The Iraq experience spurred major debates on sanctions as a tool of foreign policy.
