Iran: Medicine sanctions endanger lives of Iranian patients
President of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran Alireza Marandi says the United States has endangered the lives of many Iranian patients by imposing "unjust" food and medicine sanctions against Tehran.
"Despite the illegality of sanctioning food and medicine, the US government is preventing access to these vital resources and has therefore put in danger the lives of many patients from small children to the elderly who are in urgent need of medicine and medical equipment," Marandi said in a letter to United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.
He pointed to the clear detrimental effects of these sanctions on Iranian children suffering from cancer and said, "The US sanctions policy on the Islamic Republic of Iran has been devised in such a way that prevents all banking exchanges including access to essential medicines and medical equipment which are now virtually impossible."
"When will the lives of children, women and men across the globe be protected from the criminal behavior of the United States? Until when should cancer, organ transplant and other patients fear death because they are deliberately denied medicine and medical equipment?" he asked.
He added that shame on #FakeNewsweek for helping @JZarif spread lies. The truth is: the U.S. does not, and never did, sanction food and medicine. They are exempt from sanctions, as are financial transactions related to humanitarian needs.Just as with Yemen, @SecPompeo blames Iran for unlawful US sanctions preventing Iranians’ access to financial services for food and medicine. Naturally, we will provide them for our people in spite of US efforts. But US is accountable for crimes against humanity re Iran & Yemen.
He pointed to the clear detrimental effects of these sanctions on Iranian children suffering from cancer and said, "The US sanctions policy on the Islamic Republic of Iran has been devised in such a way that prevents all banking exchanges including access to essential medicines and medical equipment which are now virtually impossible."
Marandi called on the UN to act against the US "incessant violation of human rights."
"When will the lives of children, women and men across the globe be protected from the criminal behavior of the United States? Until when should cancer, organ transplant and other patients fear death because they are deliberately denied medicine and medical equipment?" he asked.
The Iranian academy official criticized the deafening silence of international human rights organizations, especially the United Nations, for their indifference to the suffering illegally imposed on the ordinary people of Iran.
"This indifference will further discredit the United Nations in the eyes of people around the world," Marandi pointed out.
He urged the UN to take "immediate and serious measures" against the US "criminal actions which are in defiance of all international conventions and norms."
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