ran has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency funding to help it fight the coronavirus outbreak that has hit the Islamic republic hard, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday.
The escalating outbreak in Iran - the worst-affected country in the Middle East - has killed 429 people and infected 10,075. It has damaged Iranian businesses and is bound to hit its non-oil exports after many neighbouring countries and trade partners shut their borders.