Dubai
Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for emergency funding to help it fight the coronavirus outbreak that has hit the Islamic Republic hard, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday.
The escalating outbreak in Iran — the worst-affected country in the Middle East — has killed 429 people and infected 10,075. The outbreak has damaged Iranian businesses and is bound to hit its non-oil exports after many neighbouring countries and trade partners shut their borders.
The IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, “has stated that countries affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus) will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument. Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately,” Zarif said in a tweet.
Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnaser Hemmati wrote on his Instagram page that “in a letter addressed to the head of IMF, I have requested five billion US dollars from the RFI emergency fund to help our fight against the coronavirus.” Iran’s economy was already battered by US sanctions that curbed oil and gas exports crucial for government revenues.—Reuters
