Iran slams US block of IMF loan as 'crimes against humanity'

Iran has struggled to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus which officials say has claimed over 3,600 lives and infected more than 58,000 in the country since February 19.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

06 April, 2020

Iran has struggled to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus [AFP]

The United States' obstruction of an IMF loan to help Iran fight the novel coronavirus amounts to "crimes against humanity", Iran's Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said Sunday.

Washington used its powers to block "the IMF's granting a loan to Iran to provide the necessary equipment to fight the coronavirus outbreak is a real instance of crimes against humanity", Shamkhani tweeted on Sunday.

Sanctioning medical items, he said, is "an illegal act, an anti-human rights move, and (US President Donald) Trump's open animosity with Iranian people".

Shamkhani added a hashtag saying: "Trump is more dangerous than coronavirus" in Farsi.

Calls have mounted for the US to ease its sanctions on Iran so that the Islamic republic can adequately respond to the Covid-19 crisis.Iran has struggled to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, which officials say has claimed over 3,600 lives and infected more than 58,000 in the country since February 19.

Reports emerged last month that the Central Bank of Iran requested a $5 billion loan from the IMF - for the first time since 1962 - to help fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Washington reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran in May 2018 after withdrawing from an international deal that put curbs on its arch enemy's nuclear programme.

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