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affected by the coronavirus pandemic also outside of the EU. In the case of Iran, as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrel said after the videoconference of the EU Foreign Ministers on 23 March, we as the EU need to make sure that legitimate humanitarian trade and assistance can proceed to Iran despite the existing US sanctions," Stano said.
"With this [€20mn] we are responding to the needs of the health sector in the country and the most vulnerable groups (people with chronic diseases or disabilities, the elderly, Afghan refugees). Apart from this, the EU is proving almost €300mn to the WHO [World Health Organization] with the understanding that Iran should get a proportional part as one of the most affected countries."
2.7 ​Polls & Sociology
Survey of Russians suggests Iran seen in positive way by majority
Iran drops six places to 170 on latest World Press Freedom Index
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) with the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). It reduces tariffs on more than 500 items.
Iran has placed 170th out of 180 countries in the​​World Press Freedom Index 2019​​compiled by Reporters Without Borders, six places down on where it finished in the previous year’s ranking.
The decline has coincided with the sanctions-led economic attack which the US launched last year to strangle Iran's economy to force concessions on its Middle East policies. Analysts say this has given hardliners in Iran the upper hand in many areas of Iranian society which were previously starting to liberalise as economic growth rates improved in line with the multilateral nuclear deal. Since the US walked out of that deal and imposed its heaviest sanctions ever on the Islamic Republic, the country has found itself pushed back into recession.
In a short summary put out with the latest ranking, the Reporters Without Borders said: “Iran has been one of the world’s most repressive countries for journalists for the past 40 years. State control of news and information is unrelenting and at least 860 journalists and citizen-journalists have been imprisoned or executed since 1979.
It added: “The Islamic regime exercises extensive control over the media landscape and its harassment of independent journalists, citizen-journalists and independent media has not let up. They are constantly subjected to intimidation, arbitrary arrest and long jail sentences imposed by revolutionary
9​ IRAN Country Report May 2020 www.intellinews.com