Fuzzy Study of the Effect of Economic Sanctions on Pollutant Emissions in Iran


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 28 October 2025

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor , Department of Economics, Faculty of Management, and Economics, Lorestan University, Khorramabad,, Iran

2 PhD in Forest Economics and Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

Abstract
In addition to economic consequences, economic sanctions imposed on Iran can also have unwanted environmental consequences. Given the importance of accurately and quantitatively measuring these consequences for Iran, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of economic sanctions on pollutant emissions in Iran during the period 1992-2024. For this purpose, the fuzzy regression method, which has a high ability to examine correlation under conditions of ambiguity and uncertainty, has been used. The findings of this study show that economic sanctions are effective both directly and indirectly in the emission of pollutant volumes in Iran, with a fuzzy ratio of (0.0677, 1.1073). By limiting access to new technologies, spare parts, and foreign investment, sanctions have forced industries to use old and energy-intensive machinery and reduced energy efficiency. On the other hand, economic sanctions have led to the spread of pollutant emissions in Iran due to trade isolation and reduced competitiveness of industries and enterprises, unproductive production, financial and technological restrictions on environmental investments, difficulty in importing high-quality fuel and renewable technologies, and weakening of institutional supervision. On the other hand, economic sanctions have led to the spread of pollutant emissions in Iran due to trade isolation and reduced competitiveness of industries and enterprises, unproductive production, financial and technological restrictions on environmental investments, difficulty in importing high-quality fuel and renewable technologies, and weakening of institutional supervision.

Keywords

Subjects
  • Receive Date 21 July 2025
  • Revise Date 03 September 2025
  • Accept Date 09 September 2025
  • First Publish Date 28 October 2025
  • Publish Date 28 October 2025