Iran: Imposing sanctions on supply of medicine, terrorist measure against patients

An Iranian deputy foreign minister has slammed as “illegal, inhumane and shameful” some countries’ measures to impose sanctions on the supply of medicine to other countries.

According to Press TV, Reza Najafi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Deputy for Legal and International Affairs, made the remark in a Saturday speech while addressing the high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development, which was hosted by Turkmenistan.

Najafi described sanctions as a form of economic terrorism, saying, “Countries imposing sanctions on [the supply of] medicine are, in fact, using drugs and medical equipment as a weapon against patients, which is totally illegal, inhumane, and shameful.”

The Iranian diplomat noted that recourse to unilateral coercive measures, including sanctions, is among destructive measures that undermines international peace and security, and not only are a blatant violation of human rights, but also hinder the economic and social development of target countries.

He added, “Such [unilateral coercive] measures are irresponsible and amount to brazen violation of international law as well as the basic principles on which the international humanitarian law is based.”

The Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development was established on Turkmenistan’s initiative in 2020 with the goal of peaceful settlement of conflicts, and has about 20 countries as its members.

ME