President of Iran Hassan Rouhani said his administration will not allow foreign vaccines for the coronavirus to be tested on Iranian people, adding that efforts are underway to develop a homegrown vaccine and purchase the reliable ones.

Speaking at a Saturday session of the Coronavirus Fight National Headquarters, Rouhani said people of Iran will never become a target for the trial of foreign vaccines for COVID-19.

The Iranian Health Ministry has refused offers for the trial of foreign vaccine, he added, calling on people not to be deceived about the foreign vaccine, Tasnim news agency reported.

Rouhani further gave an assurance that the administration has been doing its utmost to produce the coronavirus vaccine inside the country and purchase the reliable vaccines from abroad.

Rapid access to the vaccine is one of the main public demands, the Iranian president noted, saying plans have been formulated for the vaccination of 60 million Iranians in four phases by defining the priority groups.

Rouhani also called for strict compliance with the health protocols, expressing delight at an 80% decline in the coronavirus hospital admissions and a 70% decrease in the number of deaths in Iran.

His comments came one day after Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei praised the Iranian vaccine for the coronavirus as a source of pride, announcing that both vaccines made by the US and Britain are banned in Iran.

Source: Iranian media