Vanshika Tandon, B.A., LL.B. 2019
Image: Anadolu Agency
The post-Cold War period was marked by ever evolving global interests which in-turn influenced the contemporary politics across the globe in terms of ideological fundamentalism. The element of globalized economy resulted in matured bilateral relations around the world, which however mandated cultural rivalry between the first-world and the third-world nations. The rivalry dwells upon the complex relationship shared by the global power as against the regional powers pertaining to strategic geographical location, economic dependency and cultural drift. The extent of this relationship can be examined through the relations between Western nations and Iran which exemplify the extra-ordinary international environment that may at times, put at stake the internal security and human rights of the citizens of Iran. The multi-facet relationship has subsequently gathered attention by various scholars and the recent developments such as the Iranian ban on COVID-19 vaccine from UK and USA continue to significantly gather scholarship. The pertinent element for examination is the extent of global-rivalry which may result in subjugation of basic human rights from legal standpoint. The Article therefore, aims at examining the politicized notion of Iranians’ well-being given the Khamenei’s ban on Western Vaccines, with respect to international cooperation.
The outbreak of novel Corona virus caused the entire world to witness a rather unique situation in terms of socio-economic life and global politics. The pandemic thereof proved to be a test for political stability and health security of the various nation-states. The bilateral relations turned strategic to remain inclusive of advancements in medicinal field owing to the need for vaccine to control the spread of virus. Amidst the ventures to seize the pandemic, Western-nations such as UK and USA successfully developed the cure and began the mass testing. Despite a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 56,000 Iranians, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has banned Western coronavirus vaccines, claiming they’re untrustworthy (Esfandiari). Khamenei’s worldview and the bitter encounter with USA on the nuclear deal in the year 2015 mandated his disregard for the Western vaccine (Haghdoost). Subsequently it was publicised that the Red Crescent would receive “one million coronavirus vaccines from one of the eastern countries,” most likely Russia, China or India (Haghdoost). Thus, it can be established that owing to the unrelinquished political cult and power-dynamics, Iran opted out of receiving the cure at the earliest from the West. To this extent, the security standards of the Iranians’ with respect to receiving proper healthcare are put at stake.
The contour of the Global Health Law is incorporated through Article 12 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Iran is a signatory. Owing to the ban, these standards stand diminished which encompasses the notions of social rights such as right to Health and entails the legal norms, processes, and institutions needed to create the conditions for people throughout the world to attain the highest possible degree of physical and mental health (A. L. Taylor). The Iranian ban encompasses direct contravention of international notions of right to health which were unanimously proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1948 as a common standard for all humanity through Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations ). It is however misleading to counter the ban without emphasising the role of global-power such as America which distant the scope for mutual-cooperation. For instance, the American imposed “maximum pressure sanctions” hollowed out the state which threatened the functioning of society and basic human needs, such as access to medicine, became extremely difficult for most people (Evers). On the other hand, China donated 250,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, thereby gaining admiration of the Iranian government. Washington Post dated 3rd Feb. 2021 affirmed that “while Iran has been relatively successful in treating recent pandemics, the Iranian supreme leader has “a long history of conspiratorial constructs and mind-set around biomedical issues” (A. Taylor). The import of Chinese vaccine as against the ban on Western vaccine signifies the international environment of mutual corporation amongst the developing nations paving way for regional assimilation of various issues pertaining to the pandemic. This kind of corporation also entails the future economic avenues owing to the strategic importance of the Middle-East and rising Chinese economy.
While the pandemic asserted the need for formalised international cooperation, the on-going global politics superseded its creation owing to the existence of socio-economic contention amongst the countries. The feud over nuclear and other sanctions therefore subsumed the existence of basic human and social rights which once constituted for the founding principles of the international forums entrusted with the responsibility to create peaceful inter-dependence and cooperation. In September 2020, the members of General Assembly voiced the need to have in place “multilateral cooperation” to overcome the global threat and stressed that the respect for the international rules‑based order is the cornerstone to overcoming current and future crises (United Nations). The ban on vaccine in lieu of unresolved political issues contravenes the idea of multilateralism which paves way for obsolete risks for the Iranians’ subsequently hampering the future relations between the nations.
The Human Rights Watch asserted that the US government had built exemptions for humanitarian imports into its sanction regime, but the broad US sanctions against Iranian banks, coupled with aggressive rhetoric from US officials, have drastically constrained Iran’s ability to finance such humanitarian imports (Human Rights Watch ). In response to the same, the Watch called witnessed the need for stakeholders to ensure that those affected by the pandemic in Iran benefit swift, unencumbered and equitable access to effective treatment irrespective of the international political environment. Thus, it becomes pertinent for the international agencies and non-government organisations to safe the victims of the pandemic from the selfish interests and petty politics of the nation-states. The ideological constraint must be subjected to scrutiny to compliment the existence of basic rights.
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References
Esfandiari, Golnaz. Khamenei's Ban On Western Vaccines Blasted As A 'Politicization' Of Iranians' Well-Being. Iran: RadioFree Europe RadioLiberty, 2021.
Evers, Gerben Stormbroek and Paul. “The deteriorating relations between Iran and the West.” Atlantisch Perspectief , 2020, Vol. 44, No. 2 (2020), pp. 51-55 (n.d.).
Haghdoost, Yasna. “Iran Bans U.S., U.K. Covid-19 Vaccines in Feud With West.” Bloomber Quint 11 January 2021.
Human Rights Watch . Khamenei’s Reckless Ban on Covid-19 Vaccine:Authorities’ Unsubstantiated Claims Threaten Iranians’ Health. Beruit : Human Rights Watch , 2021.
Taylor, Adam. “Stuck between the pandemic and politics, some countries ban rivals’ vaccines.” News Article . 2021.
Taylor, Allyn L. “Global Health Law: International Law and Public Health Policy.” Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 2017: 268-71.
United Nations . “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” Document . 1948.
United Nations. “COVID-19 Pandemic Demonstrates Multilateral Cooperation Key to Overcoming Global Challenges, President Stresses as General Assembly Concludes Annual Debate.” Report. 2020.
The opinions expressed and suggestions made in the article belong solely to the author themselves. Diplomania and O.P. Jindal Global University do not endorse the same.
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