US must cease exploiting weak, underdeveloped countries

It’s almost noon when Dr. Ali Shakibai, receives a disturbing phone call.  His brother-in-law, who recently had abdominal surgery, has developed sepsis, a complication that occurs post operatively. Sepsis is an infection, and in most cases, is easily treatable with certain anti-biotics that are readily available, but if left untreated this infection can be fatal. However, his brother in law lives in Iran.  
Iran, due to its nuclear agenda, has been the target of a non-stop barrage of coercions, ranging from removing its recognition to war.  America, with international support has placed economic sanctions against Iran. The sanctions imposed restrictions on Iranian banks and trade, resulting in dramatic inflation and a lack of vital resources. A shortage in necessities including medicine has resulted in a vivid decrease in the quality of life for Iranians.

The ideology behind sanctions is to create fewer good choices, which in turn lower investments deteriorating the market. This results in citizens utilizing their power to push their government to subside with the belligerent nation. However, in Iran’s government there is a large disconnect between the citizens and the government.

Dr. Jamshid Marvasti, an Iranian-American psychiatrist, explained the psychological impact these sanctions have on Iranians,  “Iranians are traveling hundreds of miles to search for the proper medicine in cities for their loved ones, only to find the drug depleted or unaffordable.”  Mothers are slowly losing their children, due to particularly painful diseases that are easily treatable. The idea that the person you love the most can be cured but is not due to a lack of availability, instills the feeling of helplessness and anger in many people, stated Marvasti. He affirmed that many would rather “go to war than suffer from the painful and psychological trauma Iranians are facing today.”

Marvasti continued to explain that there are shortages to treatments for several heart conditions, scoliosis, cancer and much more. Some cardiologists are even forced to put two short stents in a patient’s arteries due to a lack of available longer stents, acknowledged Shakibai.

These shortages due to sanctions are immoral and unethical, and lack of proper medical care due to sanctions is rampant and tragic consequences are innumerable.

America is targeting the weakest and the most vulnerable, innocent and sick civilians, many if not all of which have very little to do with the nuclear agenda. And even then Iranians insist that their nuclear program is only for energy use.

Ironically, the United States boasts of its human rights record and vows to protect these rights. “A central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human rights,” the Department of State declared. However, to promise to promote human rights, and to be the cause of human rights violations in another country is hypocritical, in the eyes of many.

And according to UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, these “economic sanctions are putting millions of lives at risk.” 

What is even more upsetting is the lack of awareness, especially in “western” media, and the lack of publicity this issue is receiving. Many people know very little about the difficulties Iranians are currently facing, and the media does very little to acknowledge this issue. Iran, like Pakistan, China and Israel, have every right to nuclear energy, and no one has the privilege to prevent these rights.

“Iran has not attacked or invaded any country for the past 80 years. We are not looking for war; we just want energy ” Marvasti said.

America, on the other hand, has invaded more than 15 countries in the past 30 years, and has both nuclear warheads and energy.

As Americans and as human beings, we should try to push for a more effective and humane method of trying to accomplish our goals, instead of traumatizing and injuring the weak and helpless.

America’s actions are adding more misery to the lives of millions of innocent people and will create more hatred toward the west and keep the people further away from a more democratic society.

Dr. Shakibai was able to obtain the proper medication for his brother-in-law and shipped the treatment to Iran. His brother in law died, as the medication touched down in Tehran.