Tehran 0
25 February 2020

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted that “the U.S. is deeply concerned by information indicating the Iranian regime may have suppressed vital details about the [COVID-19] outbreak in that country… all nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organisations”. President Hassan Rouhani, citing Iran’s health ministry, maintained that “the virus is being controlled” and urged that “we must all continue our work and activities, because it is one of the enemies’ plots to spread fear in our country and close down the country”. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter to posit: “like other viruses – including terrorism – COVID-19 knows no borders and doesn't distinguish between ethnicities or faiths… In line with HOPE (Hormuz Peace Endeavour), Iran calls for more regional cooperation including long overdue Joint Center for Disease Control and Prevention”.

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