Assad: US trying to use virus pandemic with political aims

Monitoring Desk

MOSCOW: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has condemned the refusal of the US and Western states to lift unilateral sanctions against several states in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Al-Assad made this statement during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif in Damascus, quoted by SANA news agency.

“Sadly, the US and several other states are using this epidemic with political aims,” al-Assad said. “Even in these strictly humanitarian conditions, they have failed to lift the sanctions.” He noted that this approach exposes the amorality of Western ruling circles. “The coronavirus has shown that these governments are acting in the interest of those in power and not in the interest of their own people,” the Syrian leader stressed.

SANA informed that al-Assad had expressed his condolences to Iran over the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic in the country. Iran has documented about 83,500 cases of the novel coronavirus, with at least 5,209 deaths.

In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the WHO about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in Wuhan. (TASS)