UN Worries Over Repercussions Of American Sanctions On Iranians

Last updated on May 23rd, 2022 at 01:25 pm

Iran – The unilateral coercive measures taken to control Iran’s movement is having an adverse impact on the lives of the people, a report by the UN has stated. Alena Douhan, the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) has said that America needs to take onus towards this.

Apart from economic hardships, those suffering with disabilities or rare diseases are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Sanctions have been imposed on third party associations as well.

Speaking about the implications, Ms. Douhan shared how sanctions imposed on Iran’s key economic sectors has had a ripple effect on the lives of Iranians.  Even financial institutions along with numerous national companies being designated has affected many. For starters, it has led to severe drop of state revenues, inflation, growing poverty rates, and scarcity of resources to guarantee the basic needs of those most in need.

In a statement, the Special Rapporteur highlighted several other areas impacted by the combination of unilateral sanctions and overcompliance, including but not limited to the preservation and further development of essential infrastructure; the difficulties to expand social support programs in the context of rising prices and unemployment rates, including in support of the growing population of Afghan refugees; impediments in the business and industrial development due to absence of raw materials, inability to process international payments, and restrictions in accessing new technologies; deterioration of environmental security; challenges regarding natural disaster prevention, response and recovery, due to the bans of imports of specialized equipment and humanitarian provisions; rising challenges in the operations of international and local non-governmental organizations and humanitarian actors; obstacles to Iran’s engagement in international cooperation, including in the academia, arts and cultural heritage, sports, and its overall engagement with international organizations and associations due to travel bans and the inability to process payments of membership fees.