Trump’s threat of economic punishment against countries aiding Iran echoes a long history of ineffective U.S. sanctions, which often create unintended consequences like black markets and harm American businesses. Despite existing restrictions, Iranian oil exports persisted at barrels per day in 2023, demonstrating the limitations of such measures to achieve policy shifts in Tehran. These pronouncements obscure a past where the U.S. was once Iran’s top trade partner, raising…

The article’s focus on Tinubu's reform test overlooks a critical historical parallel: the 1983 election, also held during economic hardship and marked by irregularities, preceded a military coup. This cycle of promised reforms followed by disappointment, as seen when APC campaigned in 2015, fuels current anxieties about fairness and risks repeating destabilizing patterns. Understanding this recurring dynamic is essential for assessing the legitimacy and potential…

The United States’ recent sanctions against the International Criminal Court represent a continuation of Washington's long history of resisting the court’s jurisdiction, employing tactics similar to those used against UN weapons inspectors in 2003. While presented as a defense of national sovereignty, this action underscores the ICC’s dependence on international cooperation for enforcing its authority and highlights America’s unique position as having signed but never…