Moscow will continue efforts to end unilateral sanctions, including through joint campaigns with other major countries, a Russian deputy foreign minister said.
In a phone conversation with Iran’s envoy, Sergey Ryabkov said in line with this campaign, Russia supports cooperation within the framework of associations such as the BRICS bloc of large, emerging economies and advocates the establishment of new groups such as BRICS Plus, ISNA reported.
Iran is the primary victim of the United States' unilateral sanctions and a so-called “maximum pressure” campaign that aims to paralyze its economy.
The new US administration in 2018 reimposed sanctions that were lifted under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with the world powers and refuses to ease them despite a call by other parties, even as the world suffers a new coronavirus pandemic.
The viral disease called COVID-19 emerged in China in December 2019 and has rapidly spread across the globe since then.
Iranian Ambassador in Moscow Kazem Jalali appreciated Russia's support for Iran in the fight against the outbreak, saying its initiative to create a "green corridor" to replace economic sanctions imposed on certain states would be highly effective.
Iran has been among the worst-hit countries while its efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 are seriously hampered by US economic restrictions.
Although humanitarian goods are apparently exempt from sanctions, banking and shipping restrictions have effectively made the trade of such items almost impossible.
Iranian officials have called on the international community to stand against the sanctions and a number of world leaders have called for the removal of sanctions during the pandemic.
Speaking via teleconference to the leaders of the G-20 group of nations in late March, Russian President Vladimir Putin also urged the creation of green corridors to transport essential goods and technologies without sanctions, as the world is battling the disease.
Jalali also stressed the need to continue joint efforts against sanctions and any unilateral measure that threatens the landmark nuclear deal within the frameworks of G20 and BRICS.
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