Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for lifting of “cruel sanctions” against Syria amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

All unjust and illegal sanctions against the Syrian government and people must be lifted, particularly under the current conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Iran's foreign minister said in a meeting with the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in Tehran on Saturday.

Iran's top diplomat also criticized certain countries for obstructing the political resolution of the crisis in the Arab country.

“In recent years, good opportunities have arisen to end the crisis” in Syria, but they were squandered by certain states, Zarif said.

The UN envoy, for his part, underscored Iran’s cooperation with the United Nations since the outbreak of the crisis in 2011.

Pedersen said Tehran plays an important role in a peaceful settlement of turmoil in Syria.

The United States and the European Union have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Syria.

Washington imposed sanctions on Damascus under the much-condemned Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which came into effect on June 17, six months after it was signed into law by US President Donald Trump. The bans target individuals and businesses anywhere in the world that operate either directly or indirectly in Syria’s economy.

The European Union has also imposed sanctions on eight ministers recently appointed to the Syrian government, in what is the latest round of economic bans that the bloc has slapped against 280 businesses, individuals, and other entities affiliated with President Bashar al-Assad’s administration.

Speaking at the 75th session of the Second Financial and Economic Committee of the UN General Assembly in October, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar al-Ja’afari denounced the economic sanctions as one of the daunting challenges the Damascus government faces on the path of reconstructing the country and bringing the Syrians’ life back to normal.