A Comparative Analysis of Unilateral Sanctions and Security Council Sanctions: Legal Analysis and Extraterritorial Implications

Unilateral sanctions and other coercive measures in international law are among the complex and controversial issues in intergovernmental relations, having profound effects on human rights, global security, and trade relations. Given the increasing prevalence of these sanctions, it is essential to analyze and assess their legal dimensions. The main question of this study is to what extent unilateral sanctions are legitimate under international law and how they differ from sanctions imposed by the Security Council. The research method employed in this article is based on documentary and comparative analysis, through which the differences and similarities between unilateral sanctions and those imposed by the Security Council are examined. The process of reaching answers involves the analysis of international documents, review of legal cases, and examination of various scholars' opinions. The final outcome of the article reveals that unilateral sanctions often conflict with international legal principles and, in addition to violating human rights, contribute to weakening the global legal system. The innovation of this study lies in emphasizing the extraterritorial impacts and complexities of implementing unilateral sanctions, as well as the challenges they pose in a globalized world, which require a revision of international law principles.