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Iran enlists Pakistan for support against sanctions as pandemic spreads

Iran’s inability to contain the spread of the coronavirus within its borders is endangering the Middle East region and beyond.
TEHRAN, IRAN - MARCH 26: Health officials check body temperature of drivers and passengers at the entrance of the capital Tehran as travel ban across the country was issued within the precaution against coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in Tehran, Iran on March 26, 2020. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Faced with the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani recently wrote a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, asking him to play a role in lifting US sanctions. Since then, Islamabad has speeded up diplomatic efforts to provide relief to Tehran in combating the disease.

On March 19 in Iran, 149 people died — one person every 10 minutes — because of COVID-19, the government said. The rate was still about the same March 26, when 156 deaths were reported.

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