UN Says Sanctions Harming Iranian People
The United Nations Secretary General says Iranians are feeling the pressure of sanctions in the form of inflation, rising unemployment and a shortage of lifesaving medicines.
The Iranian national currency lost 40 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar last week, which led to protests in Iran’s Great Bazaar, with storeowners unable to accurately price their goods.
The UN has imposed four rounds of sanctions on Iran in connection with the disputes over its nuclear program. The United States and the European Union began unilateral sanctions on Iran’s energy and financial sector in July.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a report released on Friday: “The sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran have had significant effects on the general population, including an escalation in inflation, a rise in commodities and energy costs, an increase in the rate of unemployment and a shortage of necessary items, including medicine.”
According to the report, humanitarian operations have also been affected by a shortage of medicines needed for cancer, heart and respiratory conditions.
The United States claims that Iranians are aware that their leaders are responsible for the current economic situation, and U.S. Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton stressed last week that the sanctions can be quickly removed if Iran resolves the nuclear disputes.
Inside Iran, the establishment is blaming the Ahmadinejad administration for perpetuating the current economic woes with its misled policies.
