Spokesman Outlines Iran’s Measures to Contain Coronavirus

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi gave a description of the precautionary measures the ministry has taken in response to the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in the world.

News ID: 80051

Date: 29 January 2020 - 19:22

Turkey dismissed US President Donald Trump's Middle East plan on Jan. 28 as an attempt to steal Palestinian lands and kill off prospects of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

"This plan is an annexation plan that is aimed at killing the two-state solution and stealing Palestinian lands," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, describing Trump's proposals as "stillborn".

"This is an annexation plan aiming at usurping Palestinian lands and killing the two-state solution," the ministry said, adding that Palestinian people and lands cannot be purchased, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Stressing that Jerusalem (al-Quds) was a red line in the eyes of Turkey, the statement said Ankara would not let Israel justify its occupation and persecution.

"We will always stand by the brotherly people of Palestine. We will continue to work for an independent Palestine within Palestinian lands."

The statement concluded that Turkey would not support any plan that is not accepted by the Palestinian authorities, adding that peace in the Middle East would not be obtained if policies based on occupation did not end.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also criticized Trump's plan.

“No, Trump! Jerusalem (al-Quds) is the capital of the Palestinian state and the heart of the Islamic world!” Numan Kurtulmuş said in a tweet.

Turkey's parliament speaker also criticized the peace plan, saying "Jerusalem (al-Quds) is always a red line for us."

Asked by reporters about the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s measures and plans in the fight against the new coronavirus, Mousavi emphasized on Tuesday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been fully prepared for cooperation and interaction with the relevant organizations since the onset of the outbreak of the crisis.

“In this regard, Dr. Zarif has in the cabinet session proposed the idea of holding a meeting of the ministers concerned with the issue, with the participation of the foreign minister, minister of health and medical education, minister of tourism, and the minister of road,” he added.

The spokesman also highlighted the close cooperation and interaction between the diplomatic bodies and the health authorities across the country, above all with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, noting, “Moreover, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s missions in China have been given the necessary instructions on the preventive measures, and the travel advisories have been also issued for the tourists and the Iranian nationals residing in China, and after the formation of a crisis headquarters at the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Embassy in Beijing as well as at our country’s Consulate General in Shanghai, the contact numbers have been publicized for providing services and guidance for the Iranian nationals.”

Mousavi also noted that Iran’s Embassy in Beijing has established contact with the Iranian university students residing in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and has dispatched packages of foodstuff to their dormitories considering a shortage of food in the city of ten million population, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.

The spokesperson finally noted that the request from the families of a number of the Iranian students in Beijing for the facilitation of return of their children to Iran and their release from quarantine are being considered.

Hundreds of people have been infected by the Wuhan coronavirus in mainland China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and a number of the North American and European states.

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