Iran, Indonesia Favor Stronger Ties

President Hassan Rouhani and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, highlighted friendly relations between Tehran and Jakarta in a phone conversation on Monday, stressing the need to strengthen bilateral ties in all sectors in line with mutual interests.  
The two presidents hoped that the next meeting of the Iran-Indonesia Cooperation Commission would expedite the implementation of agreements already signed between the two states, President.ir reported.  
Rouhani and Widodo also discussed the new coronavirus pandemic and each country’s plans and measures to control the outbreak. 
They underlined the importance of expanding collaborations in this regard, including by sharing experiences and scientific achievements, as well as meeting mutual needs.
The Indonesian president said the coronavirus disease called COVID-19 has created a difficult global situation and under the current circumstances, it is essential that all countries, especially Muslim states, give each other a helping hand. 
Rouhani pointed to the United States’ sanctions on Iran, declaring them to be “against basic human rights”.
“Illegal oppositions, at a time when all countries are fighting the coronavirus, can be dangerous,” he said. 
The US reimposed sanctions on Tehran in 2018 after unilaterally quitting the 2015 nuclear deal and has refused to ease them even during the pandemic despite the global outcry. 
It has also reportedly blocked Iran's application for a $5 billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund for staging an effective COVID-19 response.