Iran’s High Council for Human Rights on Monday condemned sanctions and economic restrictions against Iran, warning of their humanitarian consequences for patients and vulnerable groups.
The full text of the statement is as follows:
In the Name of God
Statement of the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Condemning Economic Sanctions and the Blockade against Iran and Warning about their Humanitarian Consequences
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressing deep concern over the intensification of the humanitarian consequences of economic sanctions, financial and banking restrictions, and the economic blockade against the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly in the aftermath of the recent war and the developments of recent months, warns about the detrimental effects of these measures on the fundamental rights of the people, especially the right to life, the right to health, and access to essential medicines and necessary medical services.
The continuation and intensification of restrictions that lead to disruptions in the medicine supply chain, difficulties in transferring raw materials and medical equipment, the increase in treatment costs, and the decrease in patients’ ability to access life-saving medicines, have given rise to serious humanitarian and human rights concerns. Reports and evidence published in recent months indicate an increase in medicine shortages, sharp rises in the prices of certain pharmaceutical products, disruptions in supply routes, and the growing vulnerability of patients suffering from specific and life-threatening diseases. This situation becomes even more concerning under circumstances in which the continuation of treatment for many patients is not a deferrable choice, but a vital necessity to preserve life, prevent the deterioration of their conditions, and ensure access to the minimum conditions required for a life of dignity.
The humanitarian consequences of these restrictions are not limited to the importation of finished medicines; difficulties in accessing pharmaceutical raw materials, laboratory equipment, parts required by the pharmaceutical industry, financial resources, and international insurance and transportation services may also affect domestic medicine production and distribution capacity. Under such circumstances, even the existence of formal exemptions for medicines and humanitarian goods does not necessarily mean patients’ actual and timely access to these items, as banking restrictions, financial institutions’ concerns about exposure to secondary sanctions, and the refusal of certain companies to engage in permitted transactions may, in practice, block the supply channels for essential goods or subject them to delays and substantial additional costs.
The intensification of this situation in the aftermath of the recent war, disruptions to transportation routes, and restrictions associated with the economic and maritime blockade have given rise to even more concerning dimensions. Any disruption in the transportation of medicines, medical equipment, and essential raw materials, particularly under circumstances of increased medical needs resulting from the war, may pose serious risks to the civilian population’s access to healthcare services. It is clear that the effects of such restrictions are borne above all by people who have no role in political decisions or military conflicts but are nonetheless compelled to bear their human costs in their daily lives.
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that patients suffering from cancer, thalassemia, hemophilia, multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment-resistant epilepsy, rare diseases, and other chronic and life-threatening illnesses are among the most vulnerable groups to disruptions in the supply of medicines and medical services. For these patients, delays in receiving medicines, interruption of treatment courses, or the inability to obtain specialized equipment and supplies may lead to a serious deterioration in their physical condition, the occurrence of irreversible complications, and, in some cases, a direct threat to their lives. Children, elderly people, persons with disabilities, and families with limited financial means to cover medical expenses due to economic circumstances also face additional risks. Imposing increasingly high treatment costs on these groups may force them to make a difficult choice between meeting their basic living needs and continuing their treatment, a situation that is incompatible with the principles of human dignity, justice, and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
These concerns are also of fundamental importance from the perspective of international law. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to an adequate standard of living for health and well-being, including medical care. Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also emphasizes the right of every individual to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. General Comment No. 14 of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considers non-discriminatory access to health-related goods and services to be one of the essential components of the realization of this right and emphasizes the need to take into account the cross-border effects of economic policies and measures on people’s enjoyment of their fundamental rights.
Furthermore, reports by United Nations human rights mechanisms on the effects of unilateral coercive measures have repeatedly warned of the consequences of economic and financial restrictions for access to medicines, medical equipment, and other basic necessities. These considerations demonstrate that the human rights assessment of sanctions cannot be limited solely to their stated objectives or the existence of formal exemptions; rather, their actual, foreseeable, and attributable effects on people’s lives and health, particularly those of vulnerable groups, must be taken into account. Whenever the implementation of a restrictive policy effectively prevents people from accessing essential medicines and vital medical services, the need for a thorough examination of its compliance with international human rights obligations and the responsibilities arising therefrom becomes increasingly evident.
In situations of armed conflict, compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law for the protection of the civilian population, the sick, and the wounded is of even greater importance. The rules concerning the prohibition of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, the prohibition of depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, and the facilitation of the passage of humanitarian relief establish clear limits on the conduct of parties to the conflict. Where a siege or restrictions imposed in the context of an armed conflict, contrary to the applicable rules, result in the deprivation of civilians of vital supplies or the unjustified obstruction of their access to humanitarian relief, the matter may entail serious legal and international consequences. Accordingly, it is essential that all measures related to sieges and economic restrictions be assessed in full compliance with applicable international obligations, with particular attention to their humanitarian consequences.
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that the existence of declared exemptions for medicines and humanitarian goods, when banking, commercial, and logistical barriers effectively deprive patients of the ability to benefit from these goods, is not, in itself, sufficient to address serious human rights concerns. The fundamental criterion is the availability of actual, continuous, safe, and affordable access to medicines and essential medical services for the public; such access must not be jeopardized by political disputes, economic pressure, or conflicts between States.
On this basis, the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the United Nations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the relevant Special Rapporteurs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other international bodies to adopt an independent, responsible, and evidence-based approach to examining the humanitarian consequences of sanctions and the economic blockade against Iran, with particular emphasis on patients’ access to essential medicines and treatment, and to take effective and immediate measures to remove existing obstacles.
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran also emphasizes the need to review restrictions that directly or indirectly disrupt the supply of medicines and medical equipment; to establish and guarantee secure and sustainable financial and banking channels for humanitarian transactions; to facilitate the transfer of raw materials and medical supplies; and to ensure the passage of humanitarian relief in accordance with applicable international rules.
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran warns that the continuation of policies whose consequences are imposed on the health and lives of the civilian population on a widespread and foreseeable basis may have profound and long-term humanitarian impacts on society. The widespread and preventable deprivation of people’s access to essential medicines and treatment, where the relevant conditions are established and a connection is demonstrated between such deprivation and actions that violate international obligations, may constitute a serious human rights violation and give rise to international responsibility. Determining the legal responsibility for any action requires a careful examination of the evidence, the causal link, and the applicable rules; nevertheless, the need to prevent harm to patients and guarantee their access to treatment is urgent and cannot be disregarded.
The international community must not allow political disputes and military conflicts to hold hostage people’s access to the most basic medical necessities. The right to life and the right to health are not privileges dependent on the political will of States, but fundamental human rights that must be respected and protected without discrimination and with due regard for the inherent dignity of every individual. No patient should be deprived, on the grounds of nationality, place of residence, or political disputes beyond their control, of a medicine that is essential to preserving their life or preventing serious harm to their health.
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while condemning sanctions and economic restrictions that disrupt people’s access to medicines and treatment through their widespread humanitarian consequences, and expressing serious concern over the consequences of the economic blockade for patients and other vulnerable groups, calls upon the international community to move beyond merely expressing concern and to take practical, immediate, and effective action to remove obstacles to the supply of medicines, support patients, and safeguard the fundamental rights of the people of Iran.
Preserving patients’ lives, ensuring access to life-saving medicines, and protecting the people’s right to health are not matters for political bargaining, but urgent humanitarian and legal imperatives. Silence or inaction in the face of the preventable consequences of such restrictions must not replace the international community’s shared responsibility to protect human dignity and the fundamental rights of peoples.
