After Iran’s daily death toll from COVID-19 hit record highs for consecutive days, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has done an apparent about-face regarding the acquisition of vaccines.

In a televised address, Khamenei said the coronavirus is the most important issue facing the country. He said daily deaths — numbering above 500 — and tens of thousands of infections are “painful.” 

Khamenei praised the efforts of the domestically made vaccines and said it was fortunate that Iran chose to produce vaccines as well as purchase foreign-made ones because foreign companies broke their contracts. He did not clarify which foreign companies reneged on their promises. 

Khamenei added, “Whether they are imported or if they are made domestically there should be extra effort for vaccines," adding they should be secured in "any way possible" and placed at the disposal of the public. Khamenei had previously said Iran would ban vaccines produced in the West, though Iranian officials found a loophole by acquiring Western vaccines produced in countries outside the West.