Iranian, Russian FMs Discuss Coronavirus Outbreak, World Developments
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed efforts to counter the coronavirus outbreak.
In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, the two top diplomats conferred on the current situation and the impact of the spread of the coronavirus in both countries and the world, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website.
Zarif and Lavrov also talked about the Islamic Republic’s efforts to cope with the pandemic in the face of sanctions, ongoing political developments in Afghanistan and international efforts against the US unilateral bans against various countries.
Lavrov said Moscow wants the US to lift the sanctions that hinder Iran’s fight against the coronavirus epidemic as soon as possible.
Earlier in the day, Iranian Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoosh Jahanpoor said the number of people tested positive for COVID-19 across the country had risen to 24,811 after the detection of 1,762 new cases since Monday noon.
He said 8,931 coronavirus patients have recovered from the disease so far and have been discharged from the hospital.
According to Jahanpoor, the coronavirus death toll in Iran has risen to 1,934 after 122 patients lost their lives during the past 24 hours, showing a decline compared to a day before.
Health authorities say more than 41 million Iranians have been screened for COVID-19 under a national mobilization plan so far.
More than 387,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 globally, and the death toll has exceeded 16,700.
