Iran seeks IMF's support to curb coronavirus

By Mahmoud Barakat

ANKARA (AA) - Iran on Thursday sought financial support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to curb the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

In a Twitter post, Javad Zarif recalled that IMF’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated that countries affected by the coronavirus will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument.

"Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately," the minister said, calling on IMF to "adhere to Fund's mandate, stand on right side of history and act responsibly."

On March 4, the IMF announced allocating about $50 billion through its rapid-disbursing emergency financing facilities to help countries with low income and emerging markets address the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose to 354.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared coronavirus a global pandemic.

The global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 4,600, with over 124,500 confirmed cases, according to the WHO.

The virus originated in China’s central Wuhan city last December and has spread to more than 100 countries so far.

As part of efforts to contain the outbreak, many governments closed borders and suspended land and air travel with the worst-hit countries.