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Tehran Raps US for Obstructing Iran’s Medicine Import

Iranian Vice-President and Head of the Management and Planning Organization (MPO) Mohammad Baqer Nobakht lashed out at Washington’s economic terrorism against his country, reminding that Tehran is facing hardships to import needed food and medication at the same time that it is banned from selling oil.

Nobakht said on Saturday that the US have created obstacles for import of food and medicines, adding that they have attempted to prevent export of a single barrel of oil as well.

Speaking in the ceremony to sign MoU for building 20,000 small solar power plants, he said that the enemies have intensified sanctions against Iran.

He added that Iranian government has put on the agenda some project for construction of houses and setting up solar energy plants.

Earlier this month, it was announced by an NGO that Iranian children suffering from epidermolysis bullosa (EB) are the new victims of inhumane US sanctions against Tehran, as Washington’s bans are preventing a Swedish supplier from sending protective bandages to the country.

The NGO added that American bans have so far killed 15 of these children.

Hamid Reza Hashemi-Golayegani, the head of the NGO that helps such patients, said on Sunday that at least 15 Iranian children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) have died since the US launched its new sanctions on Iran in August.

That is because Swedish medical companies which provided protective bandages for such patients have halted supplies due to the restrictions, he said. 

Often known as butterfly children because their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly, EB patients need special care. Even mild frictions or bumps cause severe blistering of the skin which is very painful.

They often have difficulty with their daily activities, such as walking, eating and even breathing, but without proper protective bandages, their agony would be heartbreaking.

The trade of humanitarian goods, such as food, medicine and medical devices, is on paper allowed by the US, still European companies refuse to do business with Iran, fearing secondary American sanctions.

Since the re-imposition of sanctions, Swedish medical products firm Molnlycke Health Care has stopped delivering Mepilex dressings which are trusted around the world to treat a wide range of chronic and acute wounds, including in EB patients, Iranian media reports say.

Earlier, Permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations Office in Geneva Esmayeel Baqayee Hamaneh censured the US for imposing sanctions which are globally considered as illegal, adding that Washington is violating human rights principles by obstructing patients’ access to needed medications.

Baqayee Hamaneh called the US “blind and inhumane sanctions” as one of the challenges that violate the human rights of the Iranian people, including the right to health and the right of free access to medicine and treatment.

He made the remarks, addressing a ceremony at the Human Rights Achievement Exhibition in Geneva.

Baqayee Hamaneh also pointed to the great challenges that have been imposed on the path of growth and development of the Iranian people over the past four decades, and went on to say that the Islamic Republic of Iran has firmly believed in national capacities and relied on popular support to overcome these obstacles.

In relevant remarks last month, Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki condemned the US medical sanctions against the country, calling for the World Health Organization (WHO)’s action against Washington.

“The US cruel sanctions and blocking the Iranian people’s access to medicine, medical equipment and food stuff threatens the Iranians’ heath and is a crime against humanity,” Namaki said, addressing a conference of the East Mediterranean countries’ health ministers in Tehran.

He said that Iran is committed to provide health and hygiene services to all people living in the country, including the Shiites, Sunnis, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and even prisoners who have received death sentence, calling on the WHO not to allow the US warmongers to threaten people’s health by sanctions and pressures.

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