President Rouhani wrote world leaders regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the economic impact of U.S. sanctions against Iran and contending that “no country can manage this huge, dangerous crisis alone, let alone if it has many difficulties accessing international financial markets and supplying its needed goods… any policy that weakens the economic structure and medical system, and limits financial resources for crisis management, will have direct effects on the fight against the epidemic in other countries”. He urged “the international community to stand up to the U.S.'s illegal and inhumane bullying and not let unjust U.S. sanctions against Iran affect the fight against the deadly virus”, describing the sanctions as “a collective punishment against all humanity”.