An Iranian court has ordered the United States to pay seven billion dollars in damages over illegal sanctions affecting patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare skin disease. The ruling came after 295 Iranian patients and their families sued the US government for blocking the import of essential pharmaceuticals and wound dressings needed to treat the disease.
The court highlighted the adverse effects of sanctions on the lives of EB patients, citing cases where patients ran out of medicine, leading to fatalities and severe injuries. Despite US sanctions, an Iranian medical company managed to produce wound dressings for EB patients, offering a lifeline to those in need.
The US reinstated harsh sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, affecting the country’s access to vital medical supplies. While humanitarian goods were supposedly exempt, patients in Iran have suffered due to the unavailability of essential medications.
The ruling sends a strong message about the impact of unilateral sanctions on vulnerable populations and the importance of ensuring access to crucial medical treatments.