Iran has begun building strategic reserves of medicines to safeguard against potential disruptions if the UN “snapback” mechanism is activated, a senior health official announced on Sunday.Iran Builds Strategic Drug Reserves Amid Sanctions RisksTEHRAN (Iran News) Mehdi Pirsahebi, Deputy Health Minister and head of the Food and Drug Administration, said while medicines are not directly sanctioned, indirect effects through shipping inspections and financial transactions could cause difficulties. “The direct impact of snapback on pharmaceuticals is low, but challenges mainly arise in transportation—inspections of planes and ships can delay deliveries,” he explained at a press briefing ahead of the 10th Iran Pharma International Exhibition.Pirsahebi emphasized that the unpredictable behavior of the international community complicates planning. “The world often acts irrationally. When attacks target our nuclear facilities, there is silence. So, we cannot predict whether they might also extend sanctions to medicines, ignoring humanitarian concerns,” he said.To counter such risks, Iran began stockpiling essential medicines in June, a process that will continue for two months. “Our priority is the domestic market. Strategic reserves are being created without tapping into existing supplies,” he said, adding that purchases are being made gradually from domestic producers to avoid market disruption.He acknowledged that some medicines sourced from Europe already face currency transfer issues, even without snapback restrictions. He urged physicians and patients to turn to Iranian and Asian brands when shortages of European products occur. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Iran News Daily