US Offers Assistance to the Iranian People Amid Coronavirus

Photo by Farzad Mohsenvand on Unsplash

In a press release by The US Department of States, pointing out that during the public health crisis caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), The U.S. Government is prepared to assist the Iranian people in their response efforts. 

This offer of support to the Iranian people, which has been formally conveyed to Iran through the Government of Switzerland, underscores US's commitment to address health crises and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.  Because in the end, virus knows no border and can't be stopped by sanctions.

The US calls for Iran to cooperate fully and transparently with international aid and health organizations and will continue to work closely with countries in the region to help address unmet needs in response to the virus.

Persons interested in providing support to the Iranian people intended to relieve human suffering, including the donation of medicine, are exempt from U.S. sanctions. In addition, the  broad exceptions and authorizations to its sanctions for the commercial export of food, medicine, medical devices, and agricultural products to Iran. 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Government of Switzerland recently announced the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA). For more information about the SHTA, see https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm919.

Companies within Swiss jurisdiction may reach out to Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) at SHTA@seco.admin.ch for further details on requirements and instructions for participating in the SHTA. This includes entities that are owned or controlled by U.S. and third-country persons and domiciled in Switzerland. Parties may continue to avail themselves of existing exceptions and authorizations to conduct humanitarian trade with Iran outside of the humanitarian channel.