Sanctions are normally used by the international community for one or more of the following reasons:
To encourage a change in the behaviour of a target country or regime
To apply pressure on a target country or regime to comply with set objectives
As an enforcement tool when international peace and security has been threatened and diplomatic efforts have failed
To prevent and suppress the financing of terrorists and terrorist acts
Financial sanctions are normally one element of a package of measures used to achieve one or more of the above
Financial sanctions measures can vary from the comprehensive - prohibiting the transfer of funds to a sanctioned country, freezing the assets of a government, corporate entities and or residents of the target country, regime, group or target

Sanctions can be imposed by a number of bodies or other relevant countries, for example
HM Treasury
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