President Trump’s administration has stepped up its maximum‑pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic, tightening sanctions that choke the flow of foreign currency needed for critical imports, including specialty pharmaceuticals. The move, announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is intended to pressure Tehran’s leadership and limit its capacity to fund destabilizing actions in the region.
Sanctions tighten, Iranian pharmacies feel the strain
Iranian pharmacists report severe shortages and price spikes for a wide range of medicines, from heart‑failure drugs to insulin. Shahram Kalantari, head of the Iranian Pharmacists Association, told a recent press conference that nearly 800 medications are now difficult to obtain, and pharmacies are awaiting payment from insurance companies for billions of rials.
Patients like 35‑year‑old Sima, who sought a life‑saving kidney medication in Tehran, are forced to under‑dose or seek cheaper, less effective alternatives. A 55‑year‑old cancer patient, speaking anonymously, described the desperation of having to sell household items to afford overpriced drugs.
Administration’s rationale
The Trump administration argues that these hardships are an inevitable side effect of a policy designed to cripple Iran’s ability to support terrorism and pursue nuclear ambitions. By restricting access to foreign currency, the sanctions limit Tehran’s capacity to purchase imported specialty drugs that require hard‑currency payments.
“Our goal is to deny the Iranian regime the financial resources it needs to fund malign activities,” Bessent said in a statement. “We are maintaining safeguards to ensure that humanitarian goods such as food and medicine are not diverted for illicit purposes, while still applying maximum pressure on the government.”
Impact on Iran’s domestic production
Iran now manufactures more than 97% of its medicines by volume, according to Mehdi Pirsalehi of the Food and Drug Organization. However, experts note that many high‑cost, specialized treatments still rely on imported raw materials, equipment, and technology. Senior Lecturer Peivand Bastani of Flinders University warned that “local manufacturing does not necessarily mean complete self‑sufficiency.”
Compounding the issue, U.S. and Israeli airstrikes earlier this year damaged over 40 pharmaceutical facilities, further disrupting the supply chain for critical inputs.
International response and compliance challenges
U.S. officials have also tightened the licensing process for humanitarian shipments, adopting a “presumed denial” stance on certain licenses. While the administration permits transactions involving agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices, it requires detailed vetting to prevent diversion to sanctioned entities.
Erich Ferrari, founder of a Washington‑based sanctions‑compliance firm, explained that banks and trade partners often deem transactions “too risky,” leading to over‑compliance and reduced willingness to engage with Iranian purchasers.
Looking ahead
The administration maintains that sustained pressure will eventually force Tehran to the negotiating table, reducing its capacity to fund regional proxies and advance its nuclear program. Critics warn of humanitarian fallout, but the Trump administration emphasizes that the policy is a necessary tool to protect U.S. national security and uphold American values abroad.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
