Iran fights U.S. sanctions, COVID-19: president

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that his country has fought U.S. sanctions and the outbreak of novel coronavirus simultaneously, according to the state TV.

However, Iran has handled the issue of novel coronavirus better than Europe and the United States, Rouhani said.

"We did better than you (the United States and Europe) in the fight against the coronavirus, the Iranian people resisted well, took each other's hands and helped and assisted each other," he said during a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus.

"This is an honor for all, for all our loved ones and people," he said, adding that despite the pressures, the country has stockpile of basic commodities as well.

Iran on Sunday reported a total of 71,686 novel coronavirus cases in the country of whom 4,474 have died.