WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The government of Iran has transmitted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to at least five countries, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Monday.
Pompeo also accused the Iranian government of lying about the real number of cases of COVID-19 infection and deaths in the country as well as of using scarce resources to finance terrorism.
Pompeo pointed out in the statement that US sanctions against Iran do not apply to imports of humanitarian goods.
In statements published last Monday, both Russia and China urged the United States to ease sanctions on Iran in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Earlier in March, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said US sanctions against Iran have cost the Islamic Republic $200 billion over the last two years and are also hindering efforts to prevent deaths caused by COVID-19.
Last week, Pompeo announced new sanctions against three Iranian individuals connected with the country’s petrochemical industry. Pompeo reiterated that the United States will continue to fully enforce all its sanctions placed on Iran.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
