PM Imran urges Trump to lift sanctions on Iran ‘till coronavirus crisis is over’

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated his demand to US President Donald Trump of halting sanctions on coronavirus-hit Iran to allow the neighbouring nation to win battle towards COVID-19 epidemic.

“I need to attraction to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to raise the sanctions towards Iran until the COVID19 pandemic is over. The folks of Iran are dealing with untold struggling as sanctions are crippling Iran’s efforts to combat COVID19. Humanity should unite to combat this pandemic,” he wrote on his official Twitter deal with on Sunday.

I need to attraction to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to raise the sanctions towards Iran until the COVID19 pandemic is over. The folks of Iran are dealing with untold struggling as sanctions are crippling Iran’s efforts to combat COVID19. Humanity should unite to combat this pandemic

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2020

Iran is without doubt one of the worst coronavirus-hit nation the place one individual is dying each 10 minutes with nearly 20,000 confirmed circumstances of coronavirus and over 1,430 deaths.

The COVID-19 outbreak there is without doubt one of the deadliest exterior China, the place the illness originated.

The assertion comes hours after Iran praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for lifting of the US sanctions towards Tehran.

“International Minister Javad Zarif appreciated Pakistan’s reaffirmation of assist and solidarity and name to raise sanctions on Iran, in view of COVID-19,” an announcement issued by the International Workplace mentioned on Sunday.

International Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic dialog together with his Iranian counterpart and conveyed deep concern and sorrow over the tragic lack of harmless lives within the ongoing pandemic, it added. “International Minister counseled the federal government and other people of Iran for valiantly combating the COVID-19 world pandemic.”

Qureshi additionally reiterated the sooner name made by PM Imran to raise sanctions towards Iran, to allow it to utilise its assets to comprise the contagion’s unfold.

Up to now, the US has refused to raise the sanctions towards Iran, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticising Tehran for a “lack of transparency” amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The overseas minister additionally apprised his Iranian counterpart of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach on this regard.

Zarif informed Qureshi that “underneath President Hassan Rouhani’s directions, two hospitals had been allotted for overseas pilgrims from Pakistan and different international locations”.

FM Qureshi underscored that the coronavirus pandemic is without doubt one of the best challenges confronting humanity in a century. “Efficiently overcoming it necessitated each compassion and innovation.”

He apprised Iranian FM of Pakistan’s efforts to comprise the pandemic and likewise mentioned bilateral cooperation and coordination on the Taftan border within the context of the continued pandemic.

The assertion additional added: “The 2 overseas ministers underlined that Pakistan and Iran weren’t solely shut neighbours, however brotherly international locations, that had stood by one another via troublesome occasions. The 2 leaders agreed to remain in shut contact.”