At least 60,000 Iranians have died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. While not all of these deaths can be attributed to any one cause, broad-based, suffocating U.S. sanctions have served only to exacerbate a terrible situation. Whatever the result of ongoing Iran deal talks, which include sanctions negotiations, we must be clear that broad-based sanctions are unacceptable. Iran needs sanctions relief.

PHM-USA joined a diverse coalition of 43 organizations — representing foreign policy and peace activists, veterans, human rights defenders, and Iranian Americans — in sending a letter to President Biden calling on him to provide urgently-needed sanctions relief for the people of Iran as they combat another deadly wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the campaign trail, the letter recalls, candidate Biden’s stated that “[i]n the midst of this deadly pandemic that respects no borders, the United States should take steps to offer what relief we can to those nations hardest hit by this virus — including Iran.” The groups urge Biden to put his words into action urging the US to provide humanitarian relief to Iran as well as “[granting] Iran access to its restricted assets abroad in order to purchase food and medical supplies.”

Read the full letter and see the list of 43 signatory organizations here.