Iran, Italy discuss COVID-19 pandemic

The foreign ministers of Iran and Italy talked about the global coronavirus pandemic in a telephone conversation.

According to Tasnim news agency, Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio held the telephone conversation on Monday evening.

The two senior diplomats talked about the outbreak of the coronavirus in Iran and Italy, and expressed sympathy with each other’s nations over the deaths of Iranian and Italian citizens due to COVID-19 infection.

Zarif also deplored the US’ insistence on continuing with its unilateral, illegal and inhumane sanctions against the Iranian nation, and stressed the need to halt and not implement the cruel sanctions against people of Iran.

Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani called on Tunisia to employ its capacities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to trigger collective action against the “cruel and inhumane” American sanctions that have impeded Iran’s battle with the coronavirus epidemic.

In a telephone conversation with Tunisia’s new president on Monday evening, Rouhani congratulated Kais Saied on his election and on Tunisia’s National Day (March 20).

The Iranian president also expressed hope that Tehran and Tunis would enhance relations and cooperation and promote interaction and consultations about various regional and international issues during Saied’s tenure.

Describing the coronavirus pandemic as a global challenge, the battle with which requires unity among all governments and nations, Rouhani said, “Today, protecting the lives of people and countering the disease requires concerted and collective action and cooperation in the world.”

For his part, the Tunisian president praised the Islamic Republic of Iran’s mighty stances on regional, international and the Islamic world’s issues, stressing that Tunisia attaches great significance to promotion of ties and cooperation with Iran and strengthening the historic and firm relations with Tehran.

ME