Lift sanctions against Iran till coronavirus pandemic is over: PM Imran appeals to Trump

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday appealed to US President Donald Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift economic sanctions against Iran till the coronavirus pandemic is over. 

Taking to Twitter, the PM Imran urged the US president to lift sanctions for the people of Iran, who he said "are facing untold suffering as sanctions are crippling Iran's efforts to fight COVID19". 

Read more: FM Qureshi echoes PM Imran's demand to lift Iran sanctions

"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 tweeted. 

The prime minister's remarks came after the death toll from the coronavirus in Iran crossed the 1,600 mark on Sunday. Iran is one of the worst affected countries of the world along with Italy where the pandemic hasn't shown any signs of slowing. 

Under the Trump administration, the US withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal and began reimposing punishing sanctions on Iran in 2018, blocking banking transactions and oil sales, among other sectors.

Tensions between the two countries reached its peak when the US assassinated top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in January. Iran responded by attacking military bases in Iraq housing American troops. Multiple US soldiers were injured in the attack. 

Globally, 186 countries have been affected, more than 12,000 people have died and more than 300,00 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories.

The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, especially Italy, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases and deaths every day.

FM Qureshi echoes PM Imran's demands for sanctions to be lifted against Iran

FM Qureshi had spoken to his German counterpart Heiko Maas over the phone on Saturday to express concern over Iran’s coronavirus situation. He said that Iran was facing difficult circumstances and economic sanctions against the country were making it difficult to contain the pandemic.

FM Qureshi said that Iran needed medicinal drugs, ventilators and other medical equipment to tackle the pandemic. 

He urged the world to forge unity within its ranks to battle the virus which has claimed more than 10,000 lives around the globe and infected more than 200,000.