Russian television debates whether the economy is now “on par” with Iran, North Korea or Cuba

Guest speakers on Russian state television recently discussed how Iran, North Korea and Cuba weathered international sanctions and debated whether or not Russia’s economy is now “on par” with any of those countries.

“There are three ways to counter Western sanctions: the Cuban way, the North Korean way and the Iranian way,” a Russian TV host said during a segment posted to Twitter with English subtitles on Friday by Francis Scarr, a journalist who died ` surveillance.

The clip then switches to a visual report showing how Cuba, Iran and North Korea prevented their economies from collapsing by finding solutions to counter the sanctions.

After the latest report of the Russian TV segment ended, the host and guest speakers discussed what economic situation is similar to Russia’s current sanctions imposed due to its war in Ukraine. Imports of Russian oil and products were banned after the war started last February.

An important discussion took place on state television today:

Which country’s economy is the best model for Russia to follow? Cuba, North Korea or Iran? pic.twitter.com/tShi724tGM

— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) January 27, 2023

“Which of these models suits us best?” the host asked, to which one of the guest speakers replied, “The Iranian of course. It’s difficult to say ‘Iranian scenario’ because until recently we as the Soviet Union sponsored all these countries, but now it’s up to us to decide which one we are equal to. So Iran is closest to us in terms of both the nature of its economic policies and its domestic resources.”

Another guest speaker added that like Russia, Iran is a “multi-ethnic” state and that both countries have “very difficult neighbors”.

The Russian state television report mentioned US sanctions against Iran imposed in 1979 after the US embassy in Tehran was seized after the Islamic Revolution. The report added that these sanctions are “similar to the current sanctions against Russia.”

US sanctions against Iran included freezing Iranian government assets in the United States and US banks abroad, and later imposed a total trade embargo until a deal with Iran was signed in 1981.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen January 18 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Guest speakers on Russian state television discussed how Iran, North Korea and Cuba weathered international sanctions and debated whether or not Russia’s economy is now “on par” with any of those countries.
Photo by Contributor/Getty Images

The embargo was later lifted and most assets released, but the US imposed a new embargo on Iranian goods and services in support of “international terrorism” in 1987, according to the US Treasury Department.

The sanctions were also extended to banning Iran’s involvement in oil exploration. The US continued to expand sanctions against Iran to tighten restrictions on companies that provide the country with equipment and know-how to operate its oil and chemical sectors, targeting groups inside Iran such as the Basij Resistance Force, a paramilitary unit that operates under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

To survive the sanctions, Iran relied on manufacturing its own products. According to NPR, Iranian manufacturers have also been able to use informal payment systems to get money in and out of the country without having to resort to banks.

The Russian state television report also mentioned the US trade embargo imposed on Cuba in 1962, which is still in effect due to former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s decision to seize control of private property and other productive assets. The sanctions were also announced in response to its support of the “violent communist” revolution in the western hemisphere, according to The Heritage Foundation, a US-based think tank.

In the 1990s, the “Cubans were rescued by Soviet aid,” according to a report by Russian state television. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba had to resort to other economic solutions and therefore relied on exports of rum and cigars, which Russian state television described as “illegal”.

Meanwhile, North Korea faced international sanctions over developing nuclear weapons in 2006, but was able to “bypass” them with China’s help, according to the Russian state TV report. According to a report by RAND Corporation, another US-based think tank, North Korea relied on cybertheft, crypto-transmission, and ransomware “distribution” to generate revenue.

According to the Russian state television report, a guest speaker said: “There is not a single country in the world that has more experience with blockades and economic sanctions than we do [Russia].”

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.