Coronavirus: China helps while US sanctions ‘terrorise’, says Iran’s Hong Kong envoy
- Tehran’s man in Hong Kong urges the international community to condemn US sanctions, saying they have hampered efforts to fight Covid-19
- China’s support has been crucial, says the diplomat, as experts predict the crisis will increase Iran’s reliance on Beijing
“We are facing unilateral sanctions from the US, so the situation is worse [than in other countries],” he said. “These unilateral sanctions have made it more difficult to feed the economy. We also need to access our resources outside [of Iran] and buy equipment for the doctors.”
In an interview with This Week in Asia, Hosseini said China’s support had been essential for the country to navigate the epidemic, which he fears may worsen during the ongoing Persian New Year holidays.
Iran is one of the nations hit hardest by the coronavirus, alongside China, Italy and Spain. Its death toll has climbed above 1,800 and more than 23,000 people have been infected. The health ministry said Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, was killing one person every 10 minutes and infecting 50 every hour.
