An Iranian health official blasted the UN’s passive approach to the US-led western sanctions against the supply of medicine and pharmaceutical products to Iran through financial restrictions, stressing that the measure violates international laws and codes of ethics.
Under pressure from the United States, the EU foreign ministers approved new sanctions against Iran’s oil and financial sectors in January.
Both the US and EU allege that foodstuff and medicine have been exempted from restrictions, but the tough sanctions imposed on financial transactions with Iran have practically blocked Iranian companies’ access to the international markets as they cannot pay for their purchases.
Iran produces almost all its medical needs, but has to import a major part of the raw materials needed for its pharmaceutical products.
In the same regard, Head of Iran’s Medical Council Shahabeddin Sadr in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday lambasted the silence of the world body on the US-led western sanctions and restrictions against Tehran.
“The question is that based on which law, license or moral, religious or human norm and criterion, the evil power and arrogant countries ban the supply of medicine and basic health and medical needs for children, women and men of a country and why the United Nations which is chaired by your Excellency should keep mum about this issue,” Sadr said.
