The Myth of Maximum Pressure

Speaker(s)
Matin Mirramezani
Date
Wed April 15th 2026, 10:00 - 11:00am
Event Sponsor
Hamid and Christina Moghadam Program in Iranian Studies
Event is open to
Everyone
Experience Type
Virtual
Event flyer for the Stanford Iran 2040 Project titled 'The Myth of Maximum Pressure.' The image features a background photo of an oil rig flare against a cloudy sky. Text on the right lists the speakers as Matin Mirramezani and Sam Samani, and notes the event date as April 15, 2026, at 10:00 am PST via Zoom. A map outline of Iran with the project logo is also visible.

Event media

Read the full paper "Iran’s Exports Under Sanctions"

Join us for a webinar that evaluates the conventional wisdom surrounding U.S. sanctions on Iran. This session will present findings from an upcoming paper from the Stanford Iran 2040 Project. Data from this paper shows that Iran's oil exports have not only recovered from their lowest points under strict sanctions, but now surpass the peak levels seen during the JCPOA. The authors will explore the primary causes behind this rebound. The discussion will also dissect the intricate barter system that allows Iran to trade oil for goods, technology, and infrastructure projects, bypassing the international financial system. They will analyze how this mechanism funnels resources to entities like the IRGC, fueling both domestic suppression and foreign aggression. Finally, they will assess the future of this paradigm and its implications for Iran.

Matin Mirramezani

Matin Mirramezani manages the Stanford Iran 2040 Project and has been a contributor to the project since 2018. He studied economics at Stanford and co-founded the Generation Lab, a youth-focused data intelligence company. He is passionate about innovative research methods and policies that promote development. He is also the co-author of The Struggle for Development in Iran (SUP, 2022).

Sam Samani is a senior at Stanford University studying Political Science with a minor in Iranian Studies. His research focuses on Iranian elite politics, institutional continuity, and U.S. policy toward Iran, with particular attention to sanctions, succession dynamics, and state capacity. He has conducted research with the Hoover Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and has professional experience at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

Part of the Stanford Iran 2040 Project.

Stanford is committed to ensuring its facilities, programs and services are accessible to everyone. To request access information and/or accommodations for this event, please complete https://tinyurl.com/AccessStanford at the latest one week before the event.

Banner image "Iran Khuzestan _DSC19407" by youngrobv is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. 

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