ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday urged the international community to lift humanitarian sanctions against coronavirus-stricken Iran.

The foreign minister made the announcement on his Twitter account, saying Iran must be freed from sanctions in order to’ use its resources to save precious human lives.’

The entire global community is fighting an unprecedented pandemic.We must, as leaders at time of such great challenge & difficulty, show utmost compassion. Sanctions must be lifted against Iran, in this moment of peril so that it can use its resources to save precious human lives

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 20, 2020

Qureshi noted that the entire planet is facing an ongoing pandemic, asking leaders to show humanity at such a difficult time.

Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus epidemic reached 1,200 on Thursday, a government official in the health ministry told state TV.

The overall number of people infected by the virus reached 1800.

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