Taghribnews (TNA) - Iran FM raps US missing coronavirus “opportunity” to quit addiction to sanctions

Iran FM raps US missing coronavirus “opportunity” to quit addiction to sanctions

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the coronavirus pandemic an “opportunity” for the United States to quit addiction to sanctions and criticized Washington over missing the chance.

"COVID-19 was opportunity for US to kick its addiction to sanctions," Zarif tweeted on Monday night. "Instead, it will now live in infamy in the memory of our people."

Zarif also noted that despite the US sanctions, "Iran has made significant progress in fighting the pandemic, thanks to its human and scientific resources, and friends abroad."

Iran announced earlier in the day that new cases of coronavirus infections and deaths from the viral outbreak have been declining across most of the country's 31 provinces.

"In six provinces, the trend of coronavirus infections has had an upward movement and in some provinces, including Isfahan, it has not increased or decreased significantly and has almost flattened," Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday Iran has handled the coronavirus outbreak better than Europe and the United States, adding in fighting the virus, the Iranian people resisted well and assisted each other.

"This is an honor for all, for all our loved ones and people. Yes, our situation is relatively good in the fight against the disease and the dangerous virus, and our situation is better in comparison with some countries,” he said.

Illegal US sanctions have hampered the virus fight in Iran which is battling the Middle East’s most deadly outbreak.

Iran has requested a $5 billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund to battle the outbreak. But the US, which effectively controls the IMF, has signaled it has no intention to allow the loan.