• About us
  • Donate
  • WADR
  • Contact us
  • Live Stream
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Loud Silence News
Advertisement
  • Ghana News
    • General News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Opinion
  • US News
    • Business
    • Health
    • Human Interest Stories
    • Politics
    • Education
  • Africa News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
    • Politics
  • ShowBiz
    • Ghana ShowBiz
    • US Showbiz
    • African ShowBiz
    • World Showbiz
  • Editorials
    • People
  • World News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
  • Sports
    • Ghana Sports
    • World Sports
  • WADR
No Result
View All Result
  • Ghana News
    • General News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Opinion
  • US News
    • Business
    • Health
    • Human Interest Stories
    • Politics
    • Education
  • Africa News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
    • Politics
  • ShowBiz
    • Ghana ShowBiz
    • US Showbiz
    • African ShowBiz
    • World Showbiz
  • Editorials
    • People
  • World News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
  • Sports
    • Ghana Sports
    • World Sports
  • WADR
No Result
View All Result
Loud Silence News
No Result
View All Result
Home US News Human Interest Stories

Coronavirus: Iran and the US trade blame over sanctions

Loud Silence Staff by Loud Silence Staff
April 17, 2020
in Human Interest Stories
0
Coronavirus: Iran and the US trade blame over sanctions
4
SHARES
24
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

[ad_1]

Tabriz hospital built by military

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

A field hospital set up in the Iranian city of Tabriz

With Iran one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, a war of words has broken out over the impact of US sanctions.

Iran says they’re hampering its battle with the disease – but the US denies that and says Iran has mishandled the crisis.

We’ve been looking at the claims made by both sides and whether there’s any truth in them.

What are the US sanctions?

In 2018, President Trump pulled the US out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which he said was flawed.

US sanctions were reinstated on the oil industry and other key sectors of the economy and shut Iran out of the US financial system.

The aim was to get Iran to renegotiate the nuclear deal but so far it’s refused to do so.

The sanctions have driven Iran’s economy into severe recession, with oil exports largely stopping, major foreign companies pulling out to avoid US penalties and the value of the local currency plummeting.

What is Iran saying about sanctions?

Its leadership says the sanctions make it difficult for Iran to obtain vital medical supplies and equipment to treat Covid-19 patients.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused the US of moving from “economic terrorism” to “medical terror” by declining to lift the sanctions after Iran’s outbreak began in mid-February.

But he’s also said recently that despite the sanctions, Iran “has made significant progress” against the virus, thanks to its own resources and support from some foreign countries.

You might also like

Coronavirus: How India’s lockdown sparked a debate over maids

Coronavirus: Can live-streaming save China’s economy?

Coronavirus: How long does it take to recover?

What is the US saying?

“We have repeatedly said that US sanctions do not impede the Iranian regime’s response to the Covid-19 crisis,” State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus said on 1 April.

And the sanctions do allow the sale of food, agricultural commodities, medicine and medical devices, “provided such transactions do not involve persons designated in connection with Iran’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or support of international terrorism”.

Getty Images

We have repeatedly said that US sanctions do not impede the Iranian regime’s response to the Covid-19 crisis

The US has also noted Iran has refused a US offer of humanitarian and medical aid.

And it says the Iranian government has sufficient funds to pay for what it needs, including hundreds of billions of dollars in its National Development Fund.

So can Iran get medical supplies?

In the past, Iran has relied heavily on imports for more advanced medicines, with EU countries being important suppliers.

That trade has fluctuated in recent years but it’s clear the tightening of sanctions towards the end of 2018 had an impact.

EU medical exports to Iran

Iran faces a number of problems in buying medical supplies internationally, despite the exemptions for humanitarian goods:

  • only a few Iranian banks can access the international banking system
  • lengthy and complicated legal compliance for businesses trading with Iran
  • a $500,000 (£400,000) limit on US export licences for exempt food and medical items
  • a sharp drop since 2016 in the number of export licences for specialist medical equipment, some of which might be needed to treat Covid-19 patients

Image copyright
AFP

Image caption

Iran saw a surge in cases in February

Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi has said Iran is struggling to buy ventilator systems and intensive care beds and can’t transfer over money to import certain drugs.

Has Iran received any help from abroad?

Iran is asking the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $5bn in emergency funding – but the US reportedly opposes this because, it says, Iran has sufficient funds.

France, Germany and the UK have sent medical supplies under a financial mechanism set up last year to get around the US sanctions – but the transaction was reported to be worth less than €500,000 (£436,000).

Earlier this year, Switzerland, a major exporter of medical products, ran a successful trial of a humanitarian scheme (approved by the US authorities) to enable companies to sell food, medicine and agricultural commodities to Iran – but the Swiss government told BBC News there had been no transactions since then.

However, a number countries as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EU have are giving Iran medical aid, including personal protection equipment, testing kits and ventilators.

And there have also been calls for sanctions to be eased during the pandemic from the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, to enable Iran to receive more medical supplies.

Has Iran’s government made the crisis worse?

The Iranian government has insisted it’s taken all necessary measures to contain the outbreak.

But there were allegations that despite cases of infection emerging in January, the government didn’t go public with the news until 19 February to avoid harming turnout for parliamentary elections.

The Iranian government denies it withheld information about the spread of the coronavirus.

But it did not impose restrictions straight away, even in the holy city of Qom, the initial centre of the country’s outbreak, leading to public criticism from a former health minister.

The government did start to limit movement between some cities and asked people not to travel to popular holiday destinations during the Nowruz festival celebrating the Persian New Year.

  • Are there clues to the real virus death toll in Iran?

But by then, Iran had become one of the worst-hit countries in the world, although it’s reported far few virus deaths relative to its population than other nations.

Read more from Reality Check

Send us your questions

Follow us on Twitter



[ad_2]

This content first appear on bbcnews

Previous Post

Becca-Finally-Speaks-On-Copyright-Scandal

Next Post

Remdesivir Might Be a Good Bet Against COVID-19

Loud Silence Staff

Loud Silence Staff

Related Posts

Coronavirus: How India’s lockdown sparked a debate over maids
Human Interest Stories

Coronavirus: How India’s lockdown sparked a debate over maids

by Loud Silence Staff
May 6, 2020
Coronavirus: Can live-streaming save China’s economy?
Human Interest Stories

Coronavirus: Can live-streaming save China’s economy?

by Loud Silence Staff
May 6, 2020
Coronavirus: How long does it take to recover?
Human Interest Stories

Coronavirus: How long does it take to recover?

by Loud Silence Staff
May 5, 2020
Coronavirus: White House plans to disband virus task force
Human Interest Stories

Coronavirus: White House plans to disband virus task force

by Loud Silence Staff
May 5, 2020
IS militants step up attacks on Iraqi security forces
Human Interest Stories

IS militants step up attacks on Iraqi security forces

by Loud Silence Staff
May 5, 2020
Next Post
Remdesivir Might Be a Good Bet Against COVID-19

Remdesivir Might Be a Good Bet Against COVID-19

Recommended

Coronavirus: South Africa allows cigarette sales as lockdown restrictions eased

Coronavirus: South Africa allows cigarette sales as lockdown restrictions eased

April 24, 2020
Cab driver. Harvard dad. Covid victim. (opinion)

Cab driver. Harvard dad. Covid victim. (opinion)

April 18, 2020

Categories

  • African Business
  • African Education
  • African Health
  • African News
  • African Politics
  • African ShowBiz
  • Education
  • Ghana Business
  • Ghana News
  • Ghana ShowBiz
  • Ghana Sports
  • Human Interest Stories
  • News
  • Opinion
  • People
  • ShowBiz
  • Social Trends
  • US Business
  • US Education
  • US Health
  • US News
  • US Politics
  • US Showbiz
  • WADR
  • World Business
  • World News
  • World Politics
  • World Showbiz
  • World Sports

Don't miss it

The Deceptive Life of William Anarfi Sarpong – A Con Artist and Fraudster
Ghana News

Quack Dr. Wask, From Petty Criminal to Gold Fraudster – A Tale of Deception and Danger

March 15, 2025
The Deceptive Life of William Anarfi Sarpong – A Con Artist and Fraudster
Ghana News

The Deceptive Life of William Anarfi Sarpong – A Con Artist and Fraudster

March 14, 2025
The Deceptive Life of William Anarfi Sarpong – A Con Artist and Fraudster
News

The Deceptive Life of William Anarfi Sarpong – A Con Artist and Fraudster

March 14, 2025
NDC unveils campaign team for 2024 General Elections
Ghana News

NDC unveils campaign team for 2024 General Elections

June 19, 2024
A.G Godfred Dame has engaged me at odd hours to implicate Ato Forson – Richard Jakpa
Ghana News

A.G Godfred Dame has engaged me at odd hours to implicate Ato Forson – Richard Jakpa

May 23, 2024
Artiste Profile: Frank Cole aka Zyon Ovkin
Ghana ShowBiz

Artiste Profile: Frank Cole aka Zyon Ovkin

April 20, 2024

About Us

LOGO

Loud Silence Radio & TV Network and is a multi media production company focusing on Ghanaian and African news.

Contact

  • Alexandria, Virginia, USA
  • +1 212-602-9641
  • loudsilenceradio@gmail.com
Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

Download App

google play store

© 2021 Loud Silence Media. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Donate
  • Live Stream
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
Menu
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Donate
  • Live Stream
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
No Result
View All Result
  • Ghana News
    • General News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Opinion
  • US News
    • Business
    • Health
    • Human Interest Stories
    • Politics
    • Education
  • Africa News
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
    • Politics
  • ShowBiz
    • Ghana ShowBiz
    • US Showbiz
    • African ShowBiz
    • World Showbiz
  • Editorials
    • People
  • World News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Education
    • Health
  • Sports
    • Ghana Sports
    • World Sports
  • WADR
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.