Iranian doctors slam "unjust" sanctions that hit medicines vital for sick population
The president of the Academy of Medical Sciences writes to the UN secretary general. "Inhuman obstacles" interrupt aid "indiscriminately". According to a survey, half of Americans expect a war with Iran in the near future. And 49% disapprove of the White House's handling of the Iranian affair.
Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences has written a letter to the United Nations in which it attacks what it calls "illegal sanctions" imposed by the United States on Tehran, that hinder (or prevent) treatment of the sick.
In the letter, addressed to the general secretary Antonio Guterres, the president of the institute Alireza Marandi underlines that "these [unjust] sanctions have led to many obstacles in providing medicine and health care".
Marandi, a former Iranian health minister, also recalls that the blockade imposed by Washington has also interrupted the flow of humanitarian aid to the regions hit by the recent floods. "Unfortunately - adds the expert - we have to submit to illegal and inhuman obstacles placed by the United States, which indiscriminately interrupt international aid for the devastated areas of the country".
The Academy of Medical Sciences also criticizes international activists and NGOs for remaining inert and silent in the face of the "crimes" committed by Washington. In theory, sanctions should not affect medicines, equipment and primary goods; in reality, the restrictive measures act indiscriminately and have had a negative impact on the entire population.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted in recent days by Reuters / Ipsos shows that half of Americans expect a war with Iran "within the next few years". Compared to last year, a greater percentage of US citizens consider the Islamic Republic a threat to their own security. However, only a small part is in favor of a pre-emptive attack; by contrast, in the event of a provocation or attack four out of five believe that the only solution is the military one.
The possible conflict between the Islamic Republic and the United States is a dominant concern for international diplomacy. The escalation in tension was triggered by US President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and imposed the toughest sanctions on Iran in history.As noted by the International Monetary Fund, this decision has negatively impacted Iran’s economy, especially its oil exports, which was the goal of the second wave of sanctions that came into effect on 4 November 2018.
Returning to the survey, 49% of Americans disapprove of the Trump administration's handling of relations with Iran; 31% strongly "disapprove" of US policy towards the Islamic Republic. Only 39% of respondents agreed on the line adopted by the White House, which led to a dangerous increase in tension with Tehran. Faced with the danger of war, Chaldean Patriarch Card Louis Raphael Sako yesterday sent an appeal to the US and Iranian embassies in Baghdad, urging the parties to dialogue to resolve the crisis.
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28/05/2019 11:45
