Western strategy is now a twin approach: economic sanctions coupled with military support for Ukraine.
The US policy of "strategic patience" – sanctions coupled with displays of military power – has failed, according to Prof Kim.
Iranian officials have increasingly acknowledged that the American sanctions, coupled with a European Union oil embargo that took effect in July, are causing severe financial difficulties and aggravating problems caused in part by the government's own economic mismanagement.
His response - more unilateral sanctions coupled with pressure for coherent action by the UN - was well received at home, where his approval rating rose to more than 70%, according to a poll in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
American and European officials have expressed hope that four rounds of United Nations sanctions, coupled with tough measures by the United States and the European Union to restrict Iran's financial system and oil exports, will persuade the Iranians to stop or slow uranium enrichment.
"Iranians appear to have underestimated how much the remaining U.S. sanctions, coupled with uncertainty about future U.S. policies, would affect their ability to access frozen funds and engage economically with countries besides the United States," Nancy Gallagher, the interim director of the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland, reported.
The sanctions, coupled with falling energy prices and a recession in Russia this year, has made Gazprom the cheapest large cap energy stock in the world.
Sanctions, coupled with economic carrots, may not be silver bullets, but they are the only bullets we have.
"Western sanctions, coupled with the sharp decline in the price of oil, will force the regime to fail on both counts".
The rejection of sanctioned culls, coupled with continuing rural community concerns over wolves, has raised the prospect of illegal poaching.
"If these sanctions are coupled with a clear statement by the international community, led by the U.S., to act militarily to stop Iran if sanctions fail," he said, "Iran may consider not going through the pain".
