Iran says Pfizer vaccine batch expected from US benefactors

An unidentified group of U.S.-based philanthropists plans to send 150,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Iran in coming weeks, Iranian media reported Monday, in a step that could bring hardest-hit country in Middle East closer to iculating its citizens against coronavirus.

Details remained scarce in report by semiofficial Tasnim news ncy. It quoted chief of country's Red Crescent Society as saying he expects vaccine created by American drug maker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech to be imported by Jan. 19 “based on coordination with a group of benefactors in U.S."

Iran has struggled to stem worst virus outbreak in Middle East, which has infected over 1.2 million people and killed nearly 55,000.

Karim Hemmati, Red Crescent director, said his organization plans to receive an ditional 1 million vaccine doses, which on Sunday semiofficial Khabaronline.it news website reported would come from China. vaccines will be offered to citizens free of charge, Hemmati said.

Officials have said previously that importing Pfizer vaccine, which must be shipped and stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit), poses major logistical challenges for Iran.

Iran has signed up for COVAX, an international program designed to distribute coronavirus vaccines to participating countries regardless of ir wealth. It's run in part by Gavi, Vaccine Alliance. which says U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control has alrey issued a license for Iran to take part. U.S. Treasury has t reacted to Iran's participation.

chief of Iran's central bank, Abdolnasser Hemmati, told state TV last week that Iran h received approval to transfer a $244 million payment through an unnamed bank in a “third country” to obtain nearly 17 million doses of vaccines from COVAX. He did t provide furr details, such as which vaccine or how money would be sent. Under COVAX rules, Iran could at a maximum order eugh doses to vaccinate half of its 82 million people.

President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that Iran would refuse to make COVAX payment through U.S. financial institutions for fear of confiscation. Since start of pandemic, political figures in Iran have pushed anti-American conspiracy ories about spre of virus and vaccine production, dismissing prospect of U.S. assistance.

“Who trusts you? Wherever you found our money you stole it," Rouhani said.

He ded that Iran would t participate in human trials of foreign-me vaccines, vowing to provide country with imported and locally produced vaccines.

Iran's homeme vaccine is due to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial soon, enrolling 54 volunteers across country to receive two shots, state-run IRNA news ncy reported. Iran's vaccine research has gained urgency as officials allege that heavy American sanctions will hamper Islamic Republic’s mass iculation efforts.

Although Iran retains routes to vaccines despite sanctions , including through its participation in COVAX, international banks and financial institutions are reluctant to deal with Iran for fear of American penalties.

Meanwhile, hard-line officials in Iran's Revolutionary Guard have rejected use of foreign-me vaccines altoger. Last week, deputy chief of Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Mohamm Reza Naghdi, said Guard “does t recommend injection of any foreign vaccine” candidates based on genetic material kwn as messenger RNA, which carries instructions for cells to make proteins.