US claim of not targeting Iran's Medicine Sector is a “Lie”: Iran official
The Head of Iran's Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) has repudiated as a “lie” the claim by Washington that medicine is exempted from sanctions.
Mohammad-Reza Shanehsaz told ILNA news agency that we do not need U.S help in the field of medicine, because we produce about 92% of the needed drugs in our country.
He pointed out “Self-sufficiency and progress in producing new drugs is a top priority for our well-being and economy.”
“We are confident that U.S sanctions will ultimately benefit the Iranian nation, as these restrictions will increase our speed of development.”
The Head of IFDA underlined “Sanctions have been imposed when it is not possible to transfer money overseas and under sanctions, there is no difference between medicine and other products.”
“Up to now, none of our surgery has not been canceled due to a lack of equipment or drugs, which shows U.S sanctions are unfounded.”
In a tweet, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that "the U.S. does not, and never did, sanction food and medicine. They are exempt from sanctions.”
In response Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the U.S. sanctions against Tehran which ban Iranians’ access to financial services to buy food and medicine are "crimes against humanity”.
Last week, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said budget cuts, because of the drop in crude exports, have dramatically affected his department. The US sanctions have targeted all classes of Iranians, he added.
"The American claims that medicine and medical equipment are not subject to sanctions is a big and obvious lie," Namaki said.
Official reports say Iran produces some 95 percent of the basic medicines it needs and even exports some of the production to neighbouring countries.
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