The head of Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Ali Asghar Peivandi has said US sanctions that target humanitarian items such as food and medicine, are definitely targeting the Iranian people.

Iran PressIran news: Speaking at the closing ceremony of Sports Olympiad of Iran's Red Crescent Society staff, Ali Asghar Peivandi said, Iranian officials by stocking up on all essential items such as foodstuffs and medicines are trying to overcome sanctions and neutralize global imperialism.

"Sanctions imposed on Iran by the enemies of the country are not limited to the present time. The sanctions have been going on for forty years," the head of Iran's Red Crescent Society noted, according to an Iran Press report.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on 10 November that US sanctions are targeting the Iranian people, and that the sanctions are meant to negatively affect the lives of ordinary Iranians.

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In further remarks, Ali Asghar Peivandi said: "The Red Crescent Society (IRCS ) is very much appreciated by the Iranian people for doing its' best to provide appropriate and essential services in society." 

Peivandi added: "Iran's Red Crescent Society was established 95 years ago and saving people's dignity has always been one of the main goals and a top priority of the Red Crescent."

New US sanctions on Iranian financial firms, including a bank that until recently handled most payments for Iran’s imports of humanitarian goods, are having a chilling effect on foreign companies that help supply medicine and other medical products, economic analysts said according to the Washington Post.

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It is while the trade of humanitarian goods is allowed under US sanctions, according to the country's Treasury Department guidelines, permitting Iran to import food, medicine and medical devices without punishment.

Head of Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Ali Asghar Peivandi said US targets Iranians by choking off medicine and food imports

The US unilateral move has been condemned by other signatories of the JCPOA namely the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China which have voiced their commitment to the deal and vowed to protect trade between their companies and Iran.

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On May 8, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of a nuclear deal struck by Iran and six world powers known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for lifting of sanctions.

The US president also reinstated the sanctions already lifted under the JCPOA and vowed to impose the highest level of economic ban on Iran.

The second round of US sanctions against Iran targeting Iranian oil exports, shipping, aviation industry and banking affairs went into effect on Monday 5 November.

The EU is preparing a special mechanism to enable payments for Iranian oil and other exports without US dollars, possibly through a barter system. 101/201

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