The listed countries are not sanctioned because they are failing to uphold justice, they're sanctioned because they aren’t doing what the US is telling them to. On the other hand, while the death would be indirect, that can be more dangerous than direct, because there is no documented way of keeping track of the deaths caused by sanctions, and therefore there is no solution possible (besides removing the sanctions).

Unfortunately, the West has a troubling history of exploiting other countries. A recurring theme in political campaigns organized by hardliners in countries like Iran and Cuba is to remind people of this history and caution them against the possibility of its recurrence. Initiatives that deprive individuals of essential necessities such as food and medicine, and lead to the suffering of people and their loved ones, create an environment where negative perceptions of the West are significantly reinforced. A prominent example of this is the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, which resulted in the conservative party in Iran overwhelmingly winning the subsequent presidential election. This starkly contrasts the preceding presidential election in the country, where a moderate party, supportive of dialogue and diplomacy with the West, had won by a significant margin.