Tehran and Washington remain locked in retaliatory pressure campaigns that now use the coronavirus outbreak as another battlefront.
Iran is one of the hardest-hit countries in the world in the coronavirus pandemic
While largely silent in the initial days of the outbreak in Iran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has begun a concerted campaign targeting American sanctions. It’s a way to absolve Iran’s civilian government of responsibility for an outbreak it hasn’t contained. But Zarif’s allegations of “medical terror” by the U.S. also highlight the challenge Tehran faces in accessing some medical supplies.
“One of the problems for international aid has been to clarify the legal issues related to sanctions to ensure that medical supplies and medicines can be brought into Iran,” Olivier Vandecasteele, Relief International’s country director for Iran, said in a statement. “This slowed down the health response in the first weeks of the outbreak.”Sign up for the latest news, best stories and what they mean for you, plus answers to your questions.
All this comes as Iran continues to produce low-enriched uranium with equipment and sites barred by the nuclear deal. Its nuclear program chief recently reiterated a threat that Iran could withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, though Iran didn’t showcase its program during its recent annual National Day of Nuclear Energy.That bolsters suspicions of behind-the-scenes talks between intermediaries, particularly over the release of U.S. prisoners and other Westerners.
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