How did the US sanctions contribute to the spread of Corona in Iran?

Al-Jazeera Net-Tehran

Iran explained its delay in early detection of infections with Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the city of Qom (the epicenter of the disease's spread in the country); US sanctions that prevented the import of laboratory reagents and other medical supplies to diagnose the disease.

In light of the high rate of virus deaths to 26 cases, and the registration of 245 confirmed cases as of noon today, a member of the National Committee for Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health Mino Mahrez revealed the true reason behind Tehran's delay in detecting the first infections.

"We did not have certified reagents to detect the virus, and although there were no practical problems in the country to detect it early, we were late in diagnosing it due to the lack of examination requirements," she said, stressing that the disease could have been contained faster than we were if it was detected early.

Mehrez blamed the US sanctions that impeded the import of some medical supplies and raw materials necessary for the production of their counterparts inside the country, explaining that "Iran suffered as well during its response to the flu this year, as we did not receive the necessary medicines within the specified dates, not to mention the problems that were clear in providing vaccines. For this disease. "

She concluded by saying that one of the European companies producing laboratory reagents did not sell Iran its products for fear of US sanctions, and that Tehran could not verify Corona's injuries until after it obtained the examination requirements through the World Health Organization.

Demands to lift the sanctions
In the context, the outbreak of the Corona virus prompted the Iranian community in Western countries to address a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, requesting him to work to lift the sanctions on the export of medicines and medical supplies to Iran, in light of fears that some medicines and testing devices would run out due to the outbreak of the virus.

The Iranian community, in its letter, which also sent a copy to the World Health Organization, pointed out that the severe penalties for drugs and medical supplies would accelerate the spread of the virus and threaten the lives of Iranians, stressing that the sanctions prevent their desire to deliver medical supplies used in the detection, prevention and treatment of the virus The injured to the medical device in Iran.

Meanwhile, some of those infected with Coronavirus in Qom confirmed that the medical authorities did not want to take samples from all those suspected of being infected for testing because of the fear that the available laboratory reagents would run out.

To overcome this problem, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that experts and scientists in the Iranian Ministry of Defense were able to manufacture and produce the first model of several medical devices devoted to diagnosing the Corona virus, indicating that the national model is on its way to conduct final tests.

Condemnation of penalties
The US sanctions not only restricted Iran's import of medical supplies, drugs, and laboratory devices, but also exceeded them to restrict Tehran’s use of Johns Hopkins University’s website, which provides an interactive map for tracking epidemic statistics.

According to the official "IRNA" agency, the data of the American University website is published through the company "Amazon", which prohibits its services to Iran in response to US sanctions.

Although Iran has consistently condemned US sanctions in recent years, President Rouhani's latest stance on Washington's sanctions against 13 foreign entities and people in China, Iraq, Russia and Turkey for their support of Iran's missile program came "Corona," as described by the Iranian media.

Rouhani said, upon receiving the Austrian foreign minister, that the American sanctions, like the Corona virus, are more terrifying and fearful than reality.

Observers in Iran say that the US sanctions that affected many national sectors weakened the country's infrastructure and threatened the lives of Iranian patients as a result of undermining the economy and limiting commercial dealings with other countries, which negatively affected the health sector in the country.

Penalties and tweets
The tone of the Iranian tweets on social media platforms did not differ from its official counterpart, as activist Murtada Simeiari talked about the deficiency that his country suffers in providing laboratory reagents to detect Corona virus, explaining that the United States imposed sanctions on dealing with Iran regarding medicines and medical and agricultural supplies in accordance with the law " ESail. "

Asad Sadat repeated the American President Donald Trump's Persian tweet about his support for the Iranian people, and asked: "Where is Trump from the Iranian people who are suffering in these circumstances under various sanctions, especially the ban on medicines?"

As for the Iranian TV presenter, Mortada Gharqi, he expressed his disappointment with the arrival of humanitarian aid from Western countries, which he described as ranting in defense of human rights, and asked: "Were the people living with the Coronavirus not a part of humanity where they died due to sanctions on medicines, then what does rights mean? Man according to these countries?