Iran doesn’t count because they were / are complying but the US is a bully.
North Korea is a good example of sanctions not working in every way that matters.
In the absence of a working solution, people would prefer a well-intentioned (but as you said non-effective) solution to NOTHING.
If you do nothing, people will yell at you to do SOMETHING.
Sure, doing the RIGHT thing is best - but until then doing something is better than doing nothing.
Not saying I agree, just that's the idea.
If you’ve got something and it functions, your job is done, move on.
Iran doesn’t count because they were / are complying but the US is a bully.
North Korea is a good example of sanctions not working in every way that matters.