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

Iranian FM Javad Zarif appreciates Pakistan’s reaffirmation of support and solidarity, says FO

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

"I want to appeal to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift the sanctions against Iran till the COVID19 pandemic is over. The people of Iran are facing untold suffering as sanctions are crippling Iran's efforts to fight COVID19. Humanity must unite to fight this pandemic," he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Sunday.

I want to appeal to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift the sanctions against Iran till the COVID19 pandemic is over. The people of Iran are facing untold suffering as sanctions are crippling Iran's efforts to fight COVID19. Humanity must unite to fight this pandemic

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2020

Iran is one of the worst coronavirus-hit country where one person is dying every 10 minutes with almost 20,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and over 1,430 deaths.

The COVID-19 outbreak there is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated.

The statement comes hours after Iran praised Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for lifting of the US sanctions against Tehran.

"Foreign Minister Javad Zarif appreciated Pakistan’s reaffirmation of support and solidarity and call to lift sanctions on Iran, in view of COVID-19," a statement issued by the Foreign Office said on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart and conveyed deep concern and sorrow over the tragic loss of innocent lives in the ongoing pandemic, it added. "Foreign Minister commended the government and people of Iran for valiantly combating the COVID-19 global pandemic."

Qureshi also reiterated the earlier call made by PM Imran to lift sanctions against Iran, to enable it to utilise its resources to contain the contagion's spread.



So far, the US has refused to lift the sanctions against Iran, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticising Tehran for a "lack of transparency" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The foreign minister also apprised his Iranian counterpart of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach in this regard.

Zarif told Qureshi that "under President Hassan Rouhani's instructions, two hospitals had been allocated for foreign pilgrims from Pakistan and other countries".

FM Qureshi underscored that the coronavirus pandemic is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity in a century. "Successfully overcoming it necessitated both compassion and innovation."

He apprised Iranian FM of Pakistan’s efforts to contain the pandemic and also discussed bilateral cooperation and coordination at the Taftan border in the context of the ongoing pandemic.

The statement further added: "The two foreign ministers underlined that Pakistan and Iran were not only close neighbours, but brotherly countries, that had stood by each other through difficult times. The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact."