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RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: COVID vaccines are being rolled out in several corners of the world. But some countries don t have nearly the access to the vaccines as others, that includes Iran and its 80 million people. Efforts to secure enough vaccines there are being hampered by the Trump administration s sanctions and Iran s own government. NPR s Jackie Northam reports.
JACKIE NORTHAM, BYLINE: When it comes to COVID, Iran has been delivered a double whammy. It s one of the worst hit countries by the pandemic in the Middle East. And it may not have money to buy vaccines. On that point, the Trump administration has placed tight sanctions on Iran because of what it calls its malign behavior in the region, making it harder for Iran to get its oil money.
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On Day 1 of Joe Biden s presidency, Twitter handle of US Ambassador to Israel was changed (Getty Images)
Under Donald Trump, the USâ policies towards Israel and Palestine were controversial. The mercurial Republican, whose eventful tenure at the White House concluded on Wednesday, January 20, displayed a one-sided backing for Israel and took radical decisions like recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State and shifting the American Embassy in Israel there from Tel Aviv.
Soon after stepping into Washington DCâs power corridors, Trumpâs successor displayed signs that the days of Trumpâs disputed Israel-Palestine policy were over, but not for long. The administration of President Joe Biden changed the name of the Twitter account of the US ambassador to Israel to âthe official Twitter account of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, the West Bank, and Gazaâ but returned to the original name of âU.S. Ambassador to Israelâ
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Jan. 21, 2021
WASHINGTON – While U.S. President Joe Biden may not be expected to reenter the Iran nuclear deal in the first days of his administration, experts tell Haaretz that his team will likely begin reengaging and laying the groundwork through direct, bilateral diplomacy – and to expect it sooner rather than later.
Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director of the Brookings Institution’s Foreign Policy program, believes the new administration should begin to de-escalate tensions with Iran as they have tough sledding ahead of them. “Getting locked into an intensely complicated negotiation with Iran, one that’s going to be very polarizing both in the region and at home, is not exactly the way any administration would really choose to begin its foreign policy,” she says.