Reuters | Jul 25, 2013 | 22:51

WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday expanded the list of medical devices that can be exported to Iran without special permission, as it seeks to show support for humanitarian needs in a country that has been hit hard by Western sanctions.

The United States and its European allies have tightened their economic sanctions on Iran to pressure the government to rein in its nuclear programme, which the West suspects aims to produce a bomb. Iran says the programme is for peaceful purposes such as generating electricity and making medical isotopes.

Iran’s election of a relative moderate, Hassan Rouhani, last month has raised some hopes for a resolution of the long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear intentions.

US officials have said they have tried to sanction Iran without unduly harming ordinary Iranians, granting licences, for example, to US companies that want to export pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and other humanitarian goods to Iran.

But acknowledging the difficulties some companies still face, the US Treasury Department on Thursday expanded the list of items that are permitted for export without a special application, adding devices like electrocardiograph and dialysis machines.

David Cohen, the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the wider list should allow these medical supplies to get to Iranians more quickly.

“Safeguarding humanitarian trade is an important element of our policy (towards Iran),” Cohen said. “We will continue to apply powerful pressure on Iran while taking steps to ensure that we do not impact the humanitarian needs of the Iranian population.”

Sanctions lawyers have said the blacklisting of Iran’s major banks has made it extremely difficult to find smaller Iranian banks able to conduct licensed transactions for humanitarian goods, as well as international banks willing to deal with them.

Exports of US pharmaceuticals to Iran were cut in half last year compared to 2011, a sign sanctions could be taking their toll on Iranians’ access to basic medical supplies.

Government hospitals and pharmacies in Iran late last year also reported a widespread lack of drugs to treat cancer, multiple sclerosis, blood disorders and other serious conditions.

Cohen said the US Treasury Department has met with many pharmaceutical and medical supply companies to explain how to work around sanctions.

Source: http://jordantimes.com/us-makes-it-easier-to-sell-medical-supplies-to-iran