Rouhani slams US for not lifting sanctions amid virus

Iran's president Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday the US had lost an historic opportunity to apologise to Iranian people for listing its sanctions.

"This was a human issue and no one would have reproached them for backing off, this was the best historic opportunity for the Americans to come back from the wrong path they have chosen," said Rouhani.

Dealing with the largest number of coronavirus cases in the middle east, Iran had urged the U.S to lift its sanctions instead of offering aid.

U.S president Donald Trump said the U.S was open for helping other countries, including Iran, to fight the epidemic.

Rouhani also said western countries were running low on hospital beds, ventilators and food.

"They have problems in their hospitals right now .... but they keep talking and lying and saying inappropriate things about Iran", he added.

Iran's official death toll stands at 2,898, with a total of 44,606 confirmed cases.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.