Sanctions should not stop the control of medical equipment and supplies to countries trying to hold outbreaks of coronavirus, the European Union (EU)’s top diplomat has said.
The Guardian reported Jose Borrell, the EU’s high deputy for foreign affairs, made his comments in a claim on Friday in which he backed the UN’s call for an instant global ceasefire to allow the world to focus on the pandemic.
“The European Union also stresses that sanctions should not impede the delivery of essential equipment and supplies necessary to fight the coronavirus and limit its spread worldwide”.
“also encourages other jurisdictions to provide the necessary clarifications to ensure that their respective sanctions are no obstacle to the global fight against the pandemic”.
The White House intensified economic sanctions earlier this week on Venezuela and Iran, two countries described by the Trump administration as the US’s greatest enemies.
With more than 53,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, a death toll of almost 3,300, and an economy hammered by falling oil prices, Iran has been struggling to contain one of the earliest Covid-19 outbreaks outside China.
