Iran said on Thursday that it has sought financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, which has not lent it money since 1962, to help it combat the novel coronavirus.
“Our central bank requested access” to the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter, urging the fund’s board to respond to the request “responsibly”.
NAIJA LIVE TV earlier reported that the Iranian government’s strategy to counter the spread of the coronavirus will be led by the president, Hassan Rouhani, according to the news agency ISNA.
The suggestion came from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Wednesday report said. Up until now, the Health Ministry has taken the lead in the fight against the virus.
Iran has been one of the countries most seriously affected by the viral outbreak, with nearly 300 deaths and more than 8,000 infected.
A large number of cases discovered in other countries in the region have been linked to Iran.
The president’s office announced several new measures: greater involvement of the army in helping contain the virus; mobile hospitals in certain provinces; and the use of hotels and sporting venues as places to treat those infected with coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
[dpa/NAN and AFP]
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