a COVID-19 vaccine because of U.S. sanctions against Iranian banks. In March 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic, the United States blocked Iran's request for an emergency $5 billion IMF loan. After the United States withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, many banks and businesses worldwide, including pharmaceutical and medical companies, decided not to conduct any business with Iran due to U.S. sanctions. Impact on overseas students As of December 2018, United States sanctions were reportedly affecting hundreds of Iranian university students in the United Kingdom, preventing them from being able to readily pay their tuition fees and forcing them to choose between abandoning their studies or using dangerous means to transfer funds. Exceptions In December 2010 it was reported that the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control had approved nearly 10,000 exceptions to U.S. sanctions rules worldwide over the preceding decade by issuing special licenses for American companies. European and United States sanctions do not affect Iran's electricity exports, which creates a loophole for Iran's natural gas reserves. See also Sanctions against Iran Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2006 Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act of 2007 (never passed) Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act Chicago's Persian heritage crisis Iran–United States relations Anti-Iranian sentiment Foreign direct investment in Iran Economy of Iran Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges Iran and weapons of mass destruction Iran Mission Center References External links Iran Sanctions - Factbox (Summary and list of all sanctions on Iran since 1979) Iran Primer: U.S. Sanctions – PBS website Iran Sanctions: Strategy, Implementation, and Enforcement: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, 17 May 2012 Iran–United States relations Economy of Iran Modern history of Iran Politics of Iran Sanctions against Iran Iran