US Cruel Sanctions Severely Hindering Anti-Coronavirus Fight - Zarif

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed the ‘cruel and unilateral sanctions imposed by the White House that are severely hampering the Islamic Republic's fight against the novel coronavirus.’

"The cruel and unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States constitute a major obstacle to Iran's fight against the dangerous coronavirus," Zarif said in a phone conversation with Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on Sunday, emphasizing that Iran and other countries will eventually overcome the outbreak of the deadly virus.

Zarif and Mammadyarov exchanged views about the COVID-19 outbreak in the region and across the globe, calling for a collective containment cooperation.

Also on Sunday, Zarif spoke on the phone with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan about possible ways to contain the pandemic.

Zarif said the international community was now impacted and that collective determination, cooperation and interaction of all nations were needed in the fight against the disease.

Al Nahyan, for his part, expressed the UAE’s support for the Iranian government and nation in this battle.