Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote the UN Secretary-General to contend that “while other nations debate how to control the spread of the [COVID-19] virus – and while their economies suffer and fear takes hold among their populations – our people not only suffer from its effects without the full benefits of adequate medical equipment and supplies, but also the many other ways in which U.S. economic terrorism had devastated many households prior to the inception of COVID-19, and only made worse since its arrival in Iran”. Zarif further asserted that “it is imperative that the Government of the U.S. immediate half its campaign of economic terrorism against the Iranian people and lift all sanctions it has illegally imposed on my country in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 2231”. On 17 March, Zarif reiterated that “U.S. sanctions drained Iran’s economic resources, impairing the ability to fight COVID-19… it is immoral to observe them”. “Join the growing global campaign to disregard sanctions on Iran”, he urged.