Democratic Primaries

Humanitarian aid does not require an act of Congress, which might take longer than the epidemic itself. Humanitarian aid does not necessarily involve a single nation, or nations acting alone. Humanitarian aid is focused, all but guaranteeing that it can only be used for the purpose it is intended for (although with Iran, you never know). Humanitarian aid is flexible, and it can direct resources where they are needed most.

Sanctions, as I stated and you quoted, are designed to undermine a hostile regime. Of all the sanctions in place, there will be precious few, if any, that allow Iran to address the pandemic. Bernie doesn't bother to enumerate which sanctions he has in mind, except to vaguely mention the financial ones. This category is the least effective in addressing the crisis. All it will do is return the assets of Iran's government and the National Guard to the control of the country's ruling elites, and their desire to divert those assets to fighting the disease are suspect to say the least. I would go as far as argue that it is more in Iran's national interest to throw these assets into their nuclear program than to fight the pandemic.

Being a Senator, Bernie MUST know all this. Yet, he is calling for something he cannot articulate in any detail, which is unlikely to pass, and even if it passes by some miracle, is likely to be completely ineffective in reaching the goal he advocates for, and empower America's adversary instead, and he is ignoring simpler and more effective solutions to the same problem.

I didn't want to go there, but it seems like Bernie is either seriously ignorant on the subject he raised, or is just grandstanding for a propaganda effect.