Sanctions or National Policies in COVID-19 Management in Iran: Which One is More Effective?!

The new corona disease (COVID-19) is very contagious and features a high risk of vast outbreak and infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency condition on 30 January 2020 and a universal epidemic afterwards by given its rapid epidemic worldwide (1). Iran was amongst the first countries influenced by COVID-19. Iran’s health system was shocked by the fast and vast outbreak of the virus which made it impossible to take appropriate measures on the first days of COVID-19 outbreak for its management. However, Iran made maximal efforts returning to normal conditions. On the other hand, United States (US) sanctions contributed to the worsening of the conditions. The sanctions that mark the US’s economic and political war against Iran, date back to long time ago. These sanctions had indirect, adverse effects on the relief and rescue measures during the 2019 flood in Iran, as well (2). Sanctions are the perfect violation of humanitarian programs and are in conflict with the United Nations (UN) charter and the international human right declaration. Nonetheless, not only COVID-19 had no effects on the US’s perspectives and policies, but the sanctions have also been increased by the US in this period. In fact, the sanctions are the genuine manifestation of the US’s application of terrorism. These sanctions exert subtle physical, psychological, and mental effects on the people based on contribution to further spread of COVID-19.