Although the US Department of the Treasury issued an advisory to encourage the sales of medicines to Iran and released an expanded list of basic medical supplies authorized for export to Iran, interviews with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and the former head of the Iranian Hemophilia Society point to an ongoing and expanding scarcity of medicines in the country.

Over the past two years, Iran has faced the toughest, most comprehensive US-led sanctions to date. The sanctions target Iran’s oil exports, shipping, airlines, petrochemical and automotive industries, banking system and currency, which means they also target its people.

On January 4, 2010, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asserted that the US administration opposes sanctions that hurt the Iranian people. “Our goal is to pressure the Iranian government, particularly the Revolutionary Guard elements, without contributing to the suffering of the ordinary [Iranians], who deserve better than what they currently are receiving,” she said.

Later she reiterated that targeted sanctions are the “smarter” way forward: “It is clear that there is a relatively small group of decision makers inside Iran. … If we can create a sanctions track that targets those who actually make the decisions, we think that is a smarter way to do sanctions.”