ISLAMABAD: The global fraternity should “lift the sanctions on Iran”, PrimeMinister Imran Khan said Friday, as Tehran battled a skyrocketing number ofpositive coronavirus cases.
PM Imran’s comments came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote tohim asking for help in dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak that hasnow killed at least 1,433 people in Iran.
“I would stress and insist to the international community to lift thesanctions on Iran,” he said at a press conference.
“It is very unjust they are dealing with such a large outbreak on one side,and on the other they are facing international sanctions.”
Pakistan’s foreign office did not provide any additional details onRouhani’s letter to Khan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to Twitter on Tuesday tosay that US sanctions were “impairing” Iran’s ability to fight the COVID-19disease.
Pakistan shares a 960-kilometre (600-mile) border with Iran, with the maincrossing point located at Taftan in Balochistan province.
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Pakistan sealed its border with Iran last week but not before hundreds ofpilgrims returned home from the Islamic Republic, which has been one of thecountries worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
The US withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal and began reimposing punishingsanctions on Iran in 2018, blocking banking transactions and oil sales,among other sectors.
Tensions have soured further since the US assassination of Iraniancommander Qasem Soleimani in January.
Pakistan offered to mediate between the US and Iran in a bid to defusetensions following the killing.
As of Friday, Pakistan had tested 3,410 suspected coronavirus cases with461 positive cases and at least three deaths. – APP / AFP
