U.S. Sanctions Aim to Change Rogue Behavior

Posted: July 13th, 2017

By David S. Cohen

Former Cipher Brief Expert David S. Cohen is currently serving as Deputy Director, CIA. Cohen previously served as Deputy Director, CIA from 2015 to 2017. Cohen has also served in the Treasury Department as Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (2011-2015) and Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing (2009-2011). In those roles, Cohen oversaw Treasury’s financial sanctions programs, including the efforts against Iran, Russia and terrorist financing, as well as Treasury’s domestic and international anti-money laundering efforts.

David Cohen, former Deputy Director of the CIA and Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, says the U.S. sanctions program is not punitive, but rather designed to encourage a change in behavior. The Cipher Brief’s Bennett Seftel asked Cohen to explain how the U.S. determines when to impose sanctions and how sanctions affect individuals and companies seeking to conduct business in the U.S.

The Cipher Brief: How and when does the U.S. government levy sanctions against another state or certain individuals?

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