DUBAI, June 25 (Reuters) – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received his first dose of a local COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, state television reported, as part of the efforts by the country to accelerate the deployment of its vaccination.

Television showed Khamenei, 82, receiving what she said was the COV vaccine Iran Barakat, developed by a state-affiliated conglomerate and approved for public use earlier this month.

Iran, with a population of 83 million, has recorded 83,588 deaths from the coronavirus, the highest toll in the Middle East. The government of outgoing President Hassan Rouhani has blamed the slow vaccination campaign so far on US sanctions hampering efforts to purchase foreign vaccines and delays in deliveries.

The country launched human trials of COVIran in December and has since started clinical trials of at least three other vaccines.

In January, Khamenei banned health officials from importing vaccines made in the US and UK, which he said were unreliable and could be used to spread the infection to others. country.

Officials say Iran is ramping up its vaccination campaign using imported vaccines as well as COV Iran Barakat, Russia’s Sputnik V which is made locally and a vaccine produced jointly with Cuba. Read more

Iran is also participating in the COVAX program, managed by the GAVI vaccine alliance and the World Health Organization, which aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines for the poorest countries.

Food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are exempt from the sanctions Washington reimposed on Tehran in 2018 after President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 international deal on Iran’s nuclear program.

But the US measures, which target sectors such as oil and financial activities, have deterred some foreign banks from transacting financial transactions with Iran. Tehran says this has frequently disrupted efforts to import essential drugs and other humanitarian items.

Report by Dubai Newsroom Editing by Frances Kerry

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