Iran at UN: Fair vaccine distribution, lifting of sanctions key to global fight against COVID-19

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations says a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines among all nations and removal of sanctions are among the important requisites for a successful battle against the deadly disease.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the Security Council Open Meeting on Ensuring Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines in Contexts Affected by Conflict and Insecurity.

In order to prevent more severe consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, including loss of the progress already made in fighting against poverty and the intensification of inequality within and between countries, there is no other option but to achieve success in containing the virus, Takht-Ravanchi said.

For that to happen, it is necessary to increase international cooperation, distribute vaccines fairly across the world and lift inhumane sanctions and blockades, he added.

He described the coronavirus as a “common enemy of humanity” that is targeting people regardless of their race, religion and nationality and said practical cooperation and cohesion among all nations is a necessity to fight the outbreak.

US sanctions on countries hamper efforts to battle virus: Iran

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations (UN) has called for an end to unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on various countries as the restrictive measures hamper their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

He said millions of people in developed countries have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 but many developing states have failed to receive even a handful of vaccine doses.

No one in any part of the world will have immunity against the virus unless all people are immune, Takht-Ravanchi added.

The Iranian envoy said in parallel with vaccinations, it is also necessary to adopt other measures in developing countries, particularly the removal of unilateral sanctions and inhuman blockades of Yemen and Gaza.

Due to the freeze on its financial resources abroad as a result of illegal US sanctions, the Iranian government has not been able to properly help companies and the private sector make up for the damages they suffered in the face of the coronavirus spread, the diplomat added.

Iran has been contending with the deadliest pandemic the world has seen in many decades amid illegal US sanctions, which have been hampering its access to vaccines, medicine, and medical equipment in the global market.

Besides developing its own vaccines at home, Iran has imported the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia and plans its joint production with Moscow.

Iran launches nationwide vaccination campaign against COVID-19

Iran officially begins the nationwide vaccination campaign against the COVID-19 disease with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, delivering jabs to health workers.

Iran has also purchased 16.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX, a multi-agency group dedicated to assuring fair access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.

The country on February 9 officially began the nationwide vaccination campaign against the COVID-19 disease with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, delivering jabs to frontline health workers in the first phase.

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