The World Bank has agreed $90mn in “additional financing” to Iran to be “utilized only for procuring additional lifesaving, essential medical equipment to strengthen Iran’s pandemic response.” The Bank previously fronted Iran $50mn in Covid funding in May 2020. The Bank says the funding “will not go to the Iranian budget” but will be managed by the World Health Organization. Iran has been the epicenter of covid infections in the region, and US sanctions have hampered its ability to procure vaccines. Iraq has been providing Iran with “humanitarian goods” as a measure to reduce its energy debts (MEES, 17 December 2021).