Iran Sells Seized US Oil Cargo to Compensate 771 EB Patients

Iran has sold a seized US oil cargo to provide compensation to 771 Iranian patients suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare hereditary disorder that makes the skin extremely fragile and prone to injury, an Iranian judicial official said.

Judge Majid Hosseinzadeh, head of Branch 55 of Tehran’s Legal Court of International Relations, said the oil tanker was seized in the Persian Gulf in 2023. He said the case was brought by 771 EB patients, with support from EB Home, against the US government and its officials, seeking compensation for material, moral and punitive damages allegedly caused by US sanctions and restrictions on access to specialized medical dressings and medicines. Following a final verdict and enforcement order, the oil cargo was unloaded, the tanker was released and proceeds from its sale were deposited with Iran’s Judiciary.

Hosseinzadeh said the court reviewed extensive evidence from domestic and international organizations, forensic authorities and NGOs and concluded that US sanctions had restricted patients’ access to essential medicines and specialized dressings. He said a more than 100-page ruling found the US government’s actions “unlawful and inhumane” and ordered compensation. Washington has maintained that humanitarian goods are exempt from sanctions, while Iranian officials have repeatedly argued that financial restrictions have nevertheless disrupted access to essential medicines and medical supplies.