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2.6 Swiss humanitarian channel pegged for use if US drops block on Iran request for IMF funds, but there’s no sign of that
Switzerland’s special financial channel for humanitarian trade with Iran (SHTA) has been earmarked as the route that Tehran would use to secure urgent funding amounting to $5bn from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, President.ir website announced on May 26. However, there is as yet no sign that the US will refrain from using its veto to stop such funding going to the Islamic Republic, despite the difficulties Iran faces in addressing its coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The Swiss channel was created to enable Swiss companies, mostly in the foodstuffs and pharmaceutical sectors, to sell products to Iran without invoking US secondary sanctions directed at those who do business with the Iranians. Food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are exempt from the sanctions that Washington reimposed after US President Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 nuclear deal—although there have been persistent reports from many quarters that Iranian hospitals and doctors have been left under-supplied because of complications caused by the sanctions, such as in financing channels.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani indicated that the “Swiss humanitarian channel” had been selected as the preferred option after a conversation with his Swiss counterpart, Simonetta Sommaruga.
Sommaruga said Switzerland would continue with its efforts to make the Swiss channel more active.
Big Swiss companies like Nestle and drugmakers Roche and Novartis a lready make products in Iran. The new channel could encourage smaller players to export food and medicine to Iran.
ThegovernoroftheCentralBankofIran(CBI),A bdolnasserHemmati,inApril urged the IMF to use the EU trading mechanism known as Instex or SHTA to provide Tehran with the loan.
2.7 Polls & Sociology
Survey of Russians suggests Iran seen in positive way by majority
A survey conducted by Russia’s Drom.RU found that 54% of respondents were in favour of friendly relations with Iran.
A first “Week of Russian Culture” was lately hosted in the Iranian capital with groups of artisans and musicians showing their talents. The event was officially supported by the Iranian Cultural ministry and the Russian Embassy in Tehran. Some 54% (162 people) of those surveyed said “We treat Iran well, they’re our friends”, while 17% (51 people) answered “I am against friendship with rogue countries.” A total of 28% (84 people) voted “Difficult to answer”.
In the early days after the Iranian revolution of 1979, chants against the USSR were as familiar as chants against the U.S. Nowadays, a warming of attitudes is in evidence.
A similar survey has not, however, been conducted in Iran to discern attitudes about Russians.
On October 21, Iran entered into a 2-year preferential trade agreement (PTA)
10 IRAN Country Report July 2020 www.intellinews.com
