the cruelty of sanctions against Iran

While the (increasingly ineffectual and incompetent Obama led) United States pats itself on the back over its sanctions against Iran, today we can see the human cost of this sanctions regime. On January the 9th, Iran Air Flight 277 crashed killing at least 77 passengers. In fact 17 planes have crashed over the last 25 years killing approx 1,500 people, primarily because the US forbids Boeing to sell crucially needed parts to Iranian airlines.
But we continue to delude ourselves into thinking that these sanctions are actually achieving something, studies by serious academics tend to show otherwise.  According to studies by Akbar E. Torbat, "overall, the sanctions' economic effect on Iran has been significant, while its political effect has been minimal". So in other words, we've achieved nothing other than hurting innocent human beings?
So while the US tries its best to turn the proud Persian people into another Cuba, all they seem to be doing is strengthening the "security and military apparatus" of the State....and we know no good will ever come from that!