Flashback: Ron Paul Calls Iran Sanctions an Act of War

Flashback: Ron Paul Calls Iran Sanctions an Act of War
Published: 05 Aug, 2012
1 min read

To the regular Paulites, it probably doesn't come as a surprise that Ron Paul calls the latest Iran sanctions an act of war.  Paul is not quiet about his belief in non-interventionism.  But it may be surprising to some that he considers economic sanctions "weapons of trade," arguing that sanctions set the stage for war:

And continuing the current sanctions or imposing new ones will lead the United States closer to war with Iran, according to Paul. "Sanctions were the first step in our wars against Iraq and Libya," he writes, "and now more sanctions planned against Syria and Iran are leading down the same destructive path."

The overwhelming sentiment of our representatives is in conflict with Ron Paul's conviction, evidenced by the House and Senate vote to increase sanctions against Iran just two days ago.

said Sen. Bob Menendez.

True to form, Paul and Kucinich spoke in opposition to the bill,

[V]oicing concerns that it would spark an armed conflict with Iran. Mr. Paul insisted that Iran is not a threat and is “incapable of attacking us.” He maintains that the U.S. is “beating the war drums once again,” according to a Digital Journal report.

Whose right on this one? (and as a side note, if you are interested in Ron Paul's foreign policy, I would recommend reading his book, "A Foreign Policy of Freedom.")

Here's Ron Paul denouncing Iran sanctions way back in 2010. "Here we are looking for another war ... the conversation today is nothing more than war propaganda."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIO-4v8qpYc

You Might Also Like

New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
Using verified California voter file data, IVP surveyed high-propensity voters from February 13 through 20. The poll tested first-choice ballot preferences alongside issue intensity on affordability and the cost of living, immigration enforcement, more choice reform, and more....
23 Feb, 2026
-
10 min read
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
Polls consistently show that nearly all Americans across the political spectrum agree that there is too much money in politics – whether from foreign sources, corporations, or so-called “dark money” groups. ...
23 Feb, 2026
-
13 min read
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
The overlap between committee assignments and stock ownership is not automatically illegal. Because the current legal framework permits this proximity as long as disclosure rules are followed, lawmakers are not operating under a system that forces change....
20 Feb, 2026
-
4 min read