Statement by Human Rights Organizations on the Necessity of Ensuring COVID Vaccine Supply for Iran

We, the undersigned human rights and humanitarian organizations, call on all parties to ensure that people in Iran have unimpeded, rapid, and equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. We specifically call on the U.S. government to assure financial institutions that they will not be subject to U.S. sanctions for facilitating currency transfers by Iran for vaccine purchases. We call on the Iranian government to use its financial resources, distribute vaccines in an equitable and transparent manner, and combat the pandemic in accordance with the Due Diligence Process.

Iran has faced one of the first and worst waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Iranian authorities have repeatedly failed to contain the virus, a failure that has resulted in illness for over one million people and deaths exceeding fifty thousand. They have also refrained from making decisions such as business closures to ensure greater public safety, citing the country’s economic inability. As the production and distribution of COVID vaccines begins, it is critical that the people of Iran not face constraints resulting from economic sanctions that could endanger more lives. A rapid and equitable vaccination campaign is the best way to protect vulnerable populations against the virus.

It appears that current U.S. sanctions against Iran have blocked the transfer of funds to COVAX, the vaccine alliance managed by the World Health Organization, and GAVI for managing global vaccine distribution. Abdolnaser Hemmati, head of Iran’s Central Bank, announced on social media that South Korean banks, which host Iran’s frozen assets, are refusing to guarantee fund transfers to COVAX because they fear the money will be seized by the U.S. government. According to Reuters reporting, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry also pointed to the need for special authorization from the United States regarding the transfer of funds to the humanitarian trade channel managed by Switzerland.

Iran has received a license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that exempts payments to COVAX partners such as UNICEF from sanctions. OFAC has also issued a general exemption license for medicines and humanitarian goods. Nevertheless, the reluctance of financial institutions to execute such financial transactions makes it necessary for the U.S. government to provide greater assurances.

To ensure Iran’s access to the necessary budget for vaccine purchases in coordination with COVAX, the U.S. government must provide public assurances and confirmations to financial institutions and humanitarian financial mechanisms that transactions for this purpose will not be subject to obstruction or penalties. Failure to do so in a timely manner will place Iran in an unequal position compared to other countries seeking vaccine supplies and will perpetuate a deadly health crisis.

The Iranian government must consider special project monitoring reports in accordance with vaccine purchases and distribution through arrangements such as the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA) and other humanitarian financial mechanisms. This government must use its resources to protect the right to health of its people and make every effort to ensure that safe, effective, and affordable vaccines are made available to as many people as possible as soon as possible. Decisions regarding vaccine allocation must be based on transparency, public health assessments, internationally accepted procedures taking into account vulnerable groups, and must not result in discriminatory or preferential treatment.

Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation

Article 19

Arseh Sevom

Asl 19

Baptist Peace Fellowship

Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Center for Supporters of Human Rights

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Common Humanity

Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA

FEMENA

Global Grassroots Justice Alliance

Human Rights Activists in Iran

Human Rights Watch

The Hunger Project

Imagining Transnational Political Solidarities Research Circle

International Federation for Human Rights

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center

Justice for All

MADRE

Mennonite Central Committee, Washington Office

Miaan Group

Open Asia

Pax Christi USA

Pourzand Foundation

Shomeret Shalom Global Congregation

Transbalkanska Solidarnost

United for Iran

Source: Campaign for Human Rights