Iran's top leader bans corona vaccines from US, Britain

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Friday banned Iran from importing of 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 were “forbidden,” referring to surging death tolls from virus in both countries.

”I really do t trust,” m, Khamenei said of those nations. "Sometimes y want to test ,” ir vaccines on or countries, adding, “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. county began testing its vaccines on humans December. product is expected to hit local market in spring.

Hardliners in Iran have longed opposed U.S-made vaccines. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in December rejected use of foreign-made vaccines altoger. Gen. Mohammad 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.

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.