Iran supreme leader on virus, US tensions

Supreme Leer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Friday banned Iran from importing American Pfizer-BioNTech and Britain's AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, a reflection of mistrust toward West.

In a televised speech, he said import of American and British vaccines was "forbidden," referring to surging death tolls from virus in both countries.

"I really do t trust m," Khamenei said of those nations. "Sometimes y seek to try out ir vaccines on or nations to see if it works or t," he said. "I am t optimistic (about) France, eir."

However, Khamenei okayed import of vaccines from or "safe" places, and remains supportive of Iran's efforts toward producing a vaccine.

country began testing its vaccines on humans in December. product is expected to hit local market in spring.

Hardliners in Iran have long opposed U.S-me vaccines. Iran's Revolutionary Guard in December rejected use of foreign-me vaccines altoger.

Gen. Mohamm Reza Naghdi said Guard would t recommend injection of any foreign vaccine candidates based on genetic material kwn as messenger RNA, which carries instructions for cells to make proteins.

Authorities said n that U.S.-based benefactors plan to deploy scores of thousands of Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus to Iran.

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.