An Iranian court has fined the United States government $12,615 billion as compensation for the Iranians suffering from thalassemia. The verdict is regarding the complaint filed by 438 Iranians against 17 Americans for their unilateral coercive measures against Iran that affected the treatment of thalassemia patients.
The verdict was passed by the 55th branch of the Justice Administration of Tehran for International Affairs ruled on Wednesday, according to Tasnim News Agency. It ordered that the defendants, including the US government and officials, must pay the amount for the physical and mental damages to the Iranian patients for imposing sanctions.
The order held that the sanctions imposed by the US against Iran affected the delivery of thalassemia medications to Iranian patients. This forced them to take low-quality medicine which not only worsened their symptoms but also incurred exorbitant treatment costs on them.
The sanctions caused these patients trauma and their social relations were limited due to emotional and mental harm. They were also denied equal opportunities.
Earlier, the UN Human Rights Council stated that the US sanctions against Iran and their enforcement in third countries were a violation of international law. The council concluded this after analysing the findings of two special rapporteurs on Iranians suffering from thalassemia. The rapporteurs had said in a statement that the legality of the US unilateral sanctions against Iran is doubtful under international law. Despite this, the companies outside the US feel obliged to comply to avoid facing legal or business repercussions.
The experts said Iran has a "particularly high number" of patients with thalassemia who require specialised medication, which were manufactured by the Swiss company Novartis. The firm source the components from the French company Roquette Freres. But, these medicines were "denied to Iran" due to "fear in medical, delivery and insurance business sectors" the experts said.
Thalassemia is a chronic blood disorder that prevents the body from producing enough haemoglobin and patients require lifelong treatment with blood transfusions and medicine.
An Iranian Health Ministry official announced in May 2024 that around 18,800 patients are diagnosed with thalassemia in the country, 15,500 of whom have thalassemia major, an autosomal recessive disorder.
