That's why it is very important to give high consideration to humanitarian factors and normal economic activities while preparing the case for sanctions against a country. After all, the disastrous effects of sanctions fall squarely on the common people of the target country.
Sanctions, actually, are a way of dragging a country to the talks' table. Hence, they should not be imposed randomly.
Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and blocking their channels of delivery is our common objective, but we should achieve it through justice, legality, equality and rationality.
Mutual trust should be the basis for resolving all major international issues, and ideological bias and double standards should be avoided. As a saying goes, "if you want a friend, he may not be there; if you want to make an enemy, he will appear."
As for the Iranian nuclear issue, it can be settled only through dialogue, interaction and cooperation, and hence the UN Security Council should not impose fresh sanctions against the country, because it may only succeed in causing suffering to the Iranian people.
The author is deputy secretary general of China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.
(Source: China Daily)
