EXPLAINER: Iran, despite sanctions, has routes to vaccines

Although Iran faces crushing U.S. sanctions, re are still ways for Tehran to obtain coronavirus vaccines as country suffers Mideast's worst outbreak of pandemic.

After earlier downplaying virus , Iran has since ackwledged scope of disaster it faces after 1.1 million reported cases and over 52,000 deaths. Getting vaccines into arms of its people would be a major step in stemming crisis.

But while Iran is able to obtain vaccines, challenges remain ranging from sanctions imposed under President Donald Trump to logistics of making mass vaccinations happen.

HOW COULD IRAN GET VACCINE?

Iran has signed up for COVAX, an international program designed to distribute coronavirus vaccines to participating countries around world. That program is run in part by Gavi, Vaccine Alliance. Gavi says U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control has already issued a license for Iran to take part. Treasury declined to comment.

For its part, Iran has alleged U.S. sanctions have affected its ability to purchase medicine and vaccines. President Hassan Rouhani has said Iranians “should curse Trump a hundred times” over difficulties. U.S. sanctions do have specific carve-outs for medicine and humanitarian aid to Iran. However, international banks and financial institutions hesitate in dealing with Iran transactions for fear of being fined or locked out of American market.

Those sanctions, however, would t stop Iran from flying a load of cash to Geneva to pay for its participation in COVAX. Gavi declined to offer any information about Iranian payments or orders, though Iran under its rules at a maximum could order vaccines for 50% of its 82 million people.

Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman at Iran's mission to United Nations, criticized U.S. for its sanctions and banking restrictions, which he said "cruelly put many obstacles in way of Iran receiving COVID-19 vaccine.

“neless, along with our own indigeus vaccine trials, we fully expect international community and relevant international drug companies to fulfill ir humanitarian obligation and expedite all our orders,” Miryousefi said.

Local efforts to produce a vaccine have t begun in earnest, meaning Islamic Republic may need to rely on those abroad.

DOES IRAN HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A MASS ICULATION?

When it comes to childhood vaccinations, Iran has nearly 100% success in iculations, according to World Health Organization data. People from surrounding countries often come to Iran for medical care as well. Iran’s hospitals, doctors and nurses are kwn as some of best in wider Middle East, with a network of clinics from vills to big cities. State-run facilities offer subsidized care, while private hospitals can be incredibly expensive.

However, re are questions about logistics of a mass vaccination drive. Iran's aging fleet of aircraft likely would need to fly to pick up vaccines made abroad. Many airlines don't fly into Iran due to sanctions. Keeping vaccines ultra cold, like in case of Pfizer-BioNTech's required minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit), also likely would be a challenge. Mostafa Ghanei, director of scientific commission at Iran’s National Headquarters for Combating Coronavirus, reportedly has said that Iran doesn't want Pfizer vaccine for that reason.

WOULD IRAN ACCEPT AN AMERICAN-MADE VACCINE?

That remains in question. Early in pandemic, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei floated an unfounded conspiracy ory claiming virus could be man-made by America. In those March remarks, he suggested that "possibly your medicine is a way to spread virus more.” Those remarks appeared aimed at dismissing any U.S. assistance out of hand from Trump administration, but Iranian officials also w increasingly criticize President-elect Joe Biden.

Iran is looking at Chinese and Russian vaccine options. However, if it relied on COVAX for vaccines, cooperative could choose to issue it American-made vaccines. re's a cost implication as well for Iran if it decides to choose which vaccine it wants from COVAX. It would need to put up $3.50 a dose in advance to have ability to refuse vaccine offered, as opposed to $1.60 per dose. If Iran chooses to offer a deposit to vaccinate half its population through COVAX, that means a $143.5 million as opposed to a $65.6 million initial payment.

Rejecting a COVAX vaccine offer could see Iran receive doses later as well.

WHY IS IRAN UNDER U.S. SANCTIONS?

Since 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and 444-day host crisis in Tehran , Iran has been subject to a series of changing ecomic sanctions. Some were lifted under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which saw Tehran limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for that relief. In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew U.S. from that accord, re-invoking sanctions that had crushed Iran's long-anemic ecomy.

Trump said he pulled out of deal over Iran's ballistic missile program, its regional ambitions and or issues — all of which were t part of 2015 deal. Biden has signaled he could return America to deal if Iran agrees to again hor its limits. However, a series of escalating incidents over last year and a half across Mideast have raised tensions between Tehran and Washington.

(Im Credit: AP)