Statement by
H.E. Mr. Majid Takht Ravanchi
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Before the Webinar
On “The impact of unilateral coercive measures on national health systems of targeted countries,
in particular on health and well-being of women, children and people in vulnerable situation”
New York, 10 June 2021
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Distinguished Colleagues
Unilateral coercive measures, including sanctions, are unlawful, immoral and inhumane. They flagrantly violate international law and utterly breach basic human rights.
As one of the first countries hit by a severe outbreak of COVID-19, the Islamic Republic of Iran is simultaneously facing decades-long sanctions.
These illegal measures have drastically deterred firms, banks and financial institutions from engaging in commercial and financial transactions with Iran. The so-called “humanitarian exemption” that we often hear from Western officials, is but a mere deception and duplicity. Such exemptions are in fact designed to remain merely on paper.
The consequences of such sanctions pose a serious threat to Iranians’ right to health and access to essential medicines, medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceutical products and health commodities. The US’ current economic terrorism further inflicts severe sufferings on Iranian individuals who are afflicted with a range of diseases and medical conditions, resulting annually in the death of many Iranians, including innocent women and children. In practice, sanctions target the most vulnerable the most. Some of the worst-affected individuals are those with rare diseases, requiring specialized treatment. They cannot acquire previously available medicines as their import is prevented as a result of sanctions. This includes people with different or rare forms of cancers; EB, a debilitating lifelong condition that causes fragile and blistering skin; individuals in the need of chemotherapy medications as well as veterans with chronic injuries from exposure to chemical weapons during Saddam’s imposed war on Iran.
To show how sanctions impact our citizens, I want to read the summary of a letter by Yasna, an Iranian girl affected by sanctions.
“I am 6.5 years old. I have been suffering from seizure since I was 6 months old. I have been taking four types of medicines, two of which are U.S. made. However, when in recent years, American politicians decided to further tighten the sanctions against Iran, the import of such medicines stopped and my family could no longer provide me with the medicine I needed. As a result, my illness worsened and worsened leading to many seizures, due to which I lost 99 percent of my speech and 90 percent of my decision-making power. Now, I can no longer behave like my peers. While children my age go to school, play and have fun, unfortunately my entertainment, my upbringing, my dreams, my future, and literally my life, have been destroyed by a simple decision of a politician who decided to sanction our country.”
Jeopardizing the health and safety of entire populations for political ends is not only illegal but a war crime and crime against humanity, entailing international responsibility. We have the ethical responsibility to strongly oppose sanctions and call for their immediate removal.
I thank you.