This is bad. Since February 19, when the first coronavirus cases were identified in Iran, at least 6,566 people—about one in every 12,000 Iranians—have been infected. At least 237 people have died. Iran is third, behind China and South Korea, in cases of coronavirus per population. Due to U.S. sanctions, Iran is suffering from a shortage of the medical supplies, products, and equipment required for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the coronavirus.
The U.S. Treasury Department must immediately reverse its maximum pressure campaign on Iran. Add your name now. The health of the Iranian people—and global health and safety—depends on it.
We at CODEPINK have been working to get the medical-related sanctions on Iran lifted since an October 2019 Human Rights Watch report was released outlining how the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign is preventing life-saving medicines from entering the country. Finally, last week, with the coronavirus outbreak, the Treasury Department announced that it would waive certain sanctions for humanitarian supplies to go through Iran’s central bank. But it is far too little, too late, as the financial risks and reputational costs for companies to engage in even lawful humanitarian trade with Iran are severe.
