The Effects of the United States’ Extra-Territorial Sanctions on the Obligation to Cooperate in Providing Medicine and Medical Equipment During Pandemics with Particular Reference to COVID19

U.S unilateral sanctions against Iran, have reduced access to medicines and equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic and its detrimental outcomes in Iran. Such difficult health conditions require the international community to assist the affected communities such as Iran to be able to stand against such unilateral sanctions. This article aims to study the legality of unilateral sanction during COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on states international obligations to cooperate during such a pandemic. To this end, the international obligation of states at the time of the outbreak of pandemics in order to control the disease were first examined. Then, the nature and legality of the U.S unilateral sanctions against Iran and its coverage in humanitarian aids such as medicine and medical equipment were examined. In doing so, efforts were made to review international documents and some relevant I.C.J cases. Furthermore, by looking at the U.S sanctions laws it was been concluded that U.S unilateral sanctions is contrary to the rules of international law, in particular those which relate to restriction of trade on medical equipment. And also there is no legal basis to comply with these sanctions and non-cooperation in the provision of medical equipment by third states.