A recent report on the global media on Iran said that Britain has blocked efforts by oil major Royal Dutch Shell to settle a $2.3 billion debt it owes Iran by paying in kind with grains or pharmaceuticals.
Reuters reported that the sources said the British government was reluctant to provide relief for the Iranian economy, while British inhumane act is prohibited by international conventions, and it is also ethically and morally despicable.
British decision came after Shell in February explored with the British government the possibility of asking British pharmaceuticals maker GSK to deliver medicines to Iran in a payment-in-kind deal known as an offset agreement.
Aside from its humanitarian concerns of banning the food and drug export to Iran, Britain has not provided any response as to the mechanism of debt settlement by the oil company.
“Politics come and go but it's in the interests of Shell and its shareholders to pay its debts and maintain a relationship with a leading oil producer like Iran," said one of the sources who viewed the situation from a utilitarian prospect.
Dr. Mohammad Shanehsaz, the Drugs Deputy of Food and Drug Organization say that Iran now faces scarcity of essential drugs especially for cancer patients. “Due to sanction on banking activity, the process of importing of drugs takes much longer time,” he added.
The Head of Clinical Pharmaceutical Association said that 15 types of cancer drugs were now rare in the country.
SH/EA
MNA
END
Publish Date: 29 April 2013 - 08:25
TEHRAN, Apr.29 (MNA) – In an anti-humanitarian act and in flagrant disregard to human rights to live, Britain has blocked paying in kind with grains or pharmaceuticals of the Royal Dutch Sell’s debt to Iran.