US Senators Urge Trump to Clarify Humanitarian Exemptions on Iran Sanctions

“US sanctions on any country and in particular on Iran produce a chilling effect on all international transactions — even legal ones — with that country,” Senator Chris Coons, a Democratic member of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, wrote.

“This chilling effect is part of the reason why US sanctions can be effective, but it also compels us to be even more transparent and vocal about which transactions will violate our sanctions and which are permissible as the world battles a deadly pandemic. We believe articulating the exemptions to US sanctions clearly and often are important to maintaining international support for US sanctions on Iran while at the same time helping the Iranian people and the broader region fight COVID-19," the letter further read.

In addition to Coons, the letter was signed by Sen. Bob Casey, and Reps. Dean Phillips, Jamie Raskin, and Rick Larsen.

The letter calls for alternative actions to help Iran in its fight against COVID-19.

Iran — the worst-hit state by the coronavirus spread in the Middle East — has been doing its utmost to contain the respiratory disease despite the hardships created by the US sanctions.

Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that more than 44,000 coronavirus patients have recovered from the disease so far and have left the hospital.

Kianoosh Jahanpoor said the number of people tested positive for COVID-19 across the country has reached over 71,000.

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