Iran's Health Minister: The Case of Contaminated Blood Exports Ahead of Fabius's Visit is Political

As the wave of media opposition to Rouhani's government intensifies with the visit of the French Foreign Minister to Tehran, Iran's Health Minister described the case of "contaminated blood exports" being raised ahead of this visit as "political" and contrary to "national interests and the Leader's statements." Laurent Fabius is expected to visit Tehran on Wednesday, August 7, marking the first visit by a French Foreign Minister to Iran in the past 12 years. However, Mr. Fabius's visit has faced severe criticism from opponents of Hassan Rouhani's government. Some media outlets close to the conservative faction have accused the French official, who was Prime Minister at the time, of being the main culprit in the case of "contaminated blood exports to Iran" from 30 years ago, labeling him as the "smiling killer" and the "killer of Iranians." On Monday, August 5, Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi responded to this media wave, stating: "The issue of contaminated blood is an old topic, and I believe that reviving this case coinciding with the visit of the French Foreign Minister to Iran is certainly political and not out of humanitarian concern." He added: "If we acted weakly in this matter twenty-some years ago and failed to obtain compensation, raising it close to Fabius's visit to Iran is not in line with the Leader's views and the country's interests and does not present a rational image of us to the world." The "export of contaminated blood products" refers to an incident that occurred between 1984 and 1985, during which the "Mario" Institute exported blood products to countries including Iran, West Germany, Italy, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, which were later found to be contaminated with the HIV and hepatitis B viruses. The main victims of these products in Iran were hemophiliac patients, and the handling of the lawsuits from their families has been ongoing since 1997, with the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education and the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization being recognized as responsible by the Iranian judiciary in 2004. However, as reported by the newspaper Shargh in November 2013, the cases of 600 victims of contaminated blood products have been stalled. In his remarks on Monday, the Health Minister criticized government opponents, saying: "Perhaps someone from Germany wants to travel to Iran, and then it will be raised that Germany played a role in the imposed war. Perhaps someone wants to travel from England to Iran, and another issue will be raised again. Therefore, I think we should act in a manner befitting our nation and in accordance with our national interests." In addition to the issue of the "contaminated blood products" case, France's hardline stance in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the six world powers has also angered conservatives. For instance, Reza Taghavi, head of the Policy-Making Center of Friday Prayer Leaders, referred to Laurent Fabius as a "Zionist" in remarks before Friday prayers on August 2, stating: "Friday prayer leaders believe that those who exerted the most pressure on Iran during the sanctions should be at the back of the line, not that a red carpet should be laid out for them." Nevertheless, the French Foreign Minister stated on July 30 in an interview with a French radio that "France's hardline position in the nuclear negotiations will not negatively impact economic relations with Iran in the post-sanctions era." Ali Ahani, Iran's ambassador to France, also stated that "this year is the year of flourishing relations between Iran and France." Reports from Western media and sources indicate that over $100 billion of Iran's frozen assets will be released following the implementation of the Vienna agreement, and Western companies are eager to enter the Iranian market as soon as possible. A French business delegation, including representatives from about 80 companies, is scheduled to visit Tehran in September.