Iran Press/ Asia: "The sanctions have made the Iranian people's struggle against coronavirus difficult and it also has a negative impact on health protection against the virus," Imran Khan said on Sunday.
The Pakistani Prime Minister had earlier called for lifting sanctions on Iran. Imran Khan called on Friday, March 20, for lifting "unjust" US-led sanctions on neighboring Iran, so that Tehran could better deal with novel coronavirus crisis.
Khan's comments came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote to him asking to help in dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 1,685 people in Iran by now.
"I would stress and insist on the international community to lift sanctions on Iran," Khan said at a press conference.
"It is very unjust that they are dealing with such a large outbreak on one side, and on the other, they are facing international sanctions," he added.
In this regard and in another development, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi also had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Qureshi, in this conversation, outlined a report on Islamabad's efforts to lift US unilateral sanctions against Iran.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister also thanked the decision of the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus in Iran to provide medical services to Pakistani pilgrims.
In the conversation, the Iranian Foreign Minister also praised the Pakistani government's efforts to lift US unilateral and cruel sanctions, as well as its solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
The new respiratory virus, known officially as COVID-19, has spread to every continent except Antarctica as well as every single European country.
The number of diagnosed cases globally has surpassed 300,000 with more than 13000 deaths, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Over 95,000 people with diagnosed cases have recovered.
104/214
Read More:
Iran's sanctions must be lifted: Pakistani FM
Zarif stresses need to counter US sanctions to combat coronavirus
US sanctions obstacle to fight against Coronavirus: Iran's envoy
