Iran accuses US of blocking COVID-19 vaccine purchase

By Ahmet Dursun

ANKARA (AA) - Iran on Thursday accused the US of obstructing Tehran's efforts to procure COVID-19 vaccine, according to state TV.

Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki said his country could not transfer money to buy a vaccine due to unilateral sanctions imposed by the US.

"We want to transfer money for the coronavirus vaccine, but they have closed all roads. They put pressure on our people, but we are still better off [during the pandemic] than most of the rich countries in the world,” he said.

On May 8, 2018, the US administration withdrew from the nuclear deal signed with Iran and brought back sanctions on Tehran.

The US does not directly impose sanctions on the Iranian healthcare sector, but it is adversely affected by unilateral banking sanctions which bar foreign companies from trading with Tehran.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat