TEHERAN - An Iranian court has demanded the US government and officials to pay $12.61 billion in material, moral and punitive damages for the harm inflicted on Iranian thalassemia patients due to Washington's sanctions.

The ruling, issued by a Teheran court dealing with international affairs on Wednesday, follows a lawsuit filed by 438 Iranian thalassemia patients and their families against 17 American individuals and entities, who have been accused of imposing and enforcing the sanctions, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Iran condemns US new sanctions targeting oil sales

Iranian thalassemia patients rely on imported medicines and raw materials for their treatment. According to Tasnim, many have suffered severe health complications or even died in recent years due to drug shortages caused by US sanctions. These shortages worsened after Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and the subsequent compliance of certain pharmaceutical companies with the sanctions.

According to Tasnim, the court ordered the defendants to pay $1.73 billion to 346 Iranian patients. Each plaintiff will receive $5 million for severe side effects and high costs caused by low-quality drugs in the absence of high-quality ones.

READ MORE: Iran orders US to pay $170m for involvement in 2010 ‘terrorist attack’

The defendants must also pay $2.76 billion to the same 346 plaintiffs. Each will receive $8 million for mental and psychological harm from using low-quality medicines.

The ruling also orders the US government and officials to pay $1.54 billion in material and moral damages to 92 plaintiffs who lost loved ones due to drug shortages. Additionally, it mandates $6.57 billion in punitive compensation for all 438 plaintiffs.

ALSO READ: Iran firm on not holding nuclear talks 'under pressure'

While the US claims that humanitarian items, including medicine and food, are not sanctioned, its restrictions on Iran's oil exports and banking sector have effectively blocked the country from importing these goods.