International trade community interests are frequently driven by practical concerns of immediate consequences.  Many LawCustoms visitors bring their particular interests, such as savings that can be realized from a particular transaction.  Other visitors are interested in a broader picture and looking to learn the structure that shapes international trade scene.  History is the bridge that brings together the structure that we have today with foundation upon which it was built. Iran is particularly interesting to the U.S. international trade community largely due to its resources and geography.  Steptoe & Johnson attorneys, for example, provided a well written summary of current state of U.S. sanctions applicable to Iran in their US Sanctions on Iran: 2012 Year in Review.  Other distinguished members of the international trade community have written on the topic extensively as well.  Undoubtedly, compliance with U.S. laws is a matter of primary concern for U.S. persons and persons that do business with the U.S. (e.g. U.S. subsidiaries).  But the mere compliance with the letter, without raising questions about the spirit of the law, is probably counterproductive to the democratic principles so fundamental to the American society. If one accepts a view that “[a]n educated citizenry is a vital requisite…

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