Lift sanctions on Iran until COVID-19 crisis is over, PM appeals to US president

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday appealed to US President Donald Trump to lift sanctions against Iran on humanitarian grounds to help the neighbouring country combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“The people of Iran are facing untold suffering as sanctions are crippling Iran’s efforts to fight COVID19,” the prime minister said in a tweet.

“I want to appeal to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift the sanctions against Iran till the COVID19 pandemic is over.”

“Humanity must unite to fight this pandemic.”

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

Speaking at a media briefing earlier this week, the prime minister had called on the international community to remove sanctions on Iran so that it can deal with the novel coronavirus crisis.

Read More: Pakistan’s economic situation incapable of national lockdown: PM Imran Khan

“I would stress and insist the international community to lift the sanctions on Iran. It is very unjust they are dealing with such a large outbreak on one side, and on the other they are facing international sanctions,” said PM Khan.

It is to mention here that the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani also wrote to Prime Minister Khan on Friday asking for him and Pakistan to play their role in getting the sanctions imposed on Iran lifted.

Read More: Iranian President pens letter to PM Imran Khan, seeks relief on US sanctions: sources

Foreign office sources claimed that the Iranian President wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 14 requesting Pakistan to request relief on economic sanctions imposed by the United States on the country amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic.