Iran asks IMF for 5-bln-USD loan to combat COVID-19

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a 5-billion-U.S.-dollar loan to combat the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the central banker said Thursday, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iran's application for loan came after IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva officially announced that the international community has asked the IMF to use its financial tools to help the countries affected by COVID-19 and to make available 50 billion dollars through its rapid-disbursing emergency financing facilities to help.

"According to IMF's proclamation and considering the widespread outbreak of the coronavirus in our country and the necessity for measures to prevent and cure the disease and address its economic impacts, we ask for around 5 billion U.S. dollars from rapid-disbursing emergency financing, considering the Islamic Republic of Iran's quota in the fund," said Abdolnaser Hemmati, Iran's central banker.

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Thursday announced that 10,075 people in the country have been infected by COVID-19, of whom 429 died.

(XINHUA)