Iranian President Urges Foreign Ministry to Step Up Efforts for Vaccine Imports
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi ordered the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary measures to facilitate the import of vaccines for the coronavirus, describing efforts to contain the pandemic as the most important task that all authorities must perform presently.
In remarks at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Raisi said the growing number of COVID cases and mortalities necessitates immediate action to tackle the pandemic without any delay.
The president also ordered the outgoing foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to carry out the measures and make the necessary arrangements to accelerate and increase the import of coronavirus vaccine.
He also called on the Health Ministry and the Red Crescent Society to do their utmost to expedite and enhance public vaccination.
The president warned that a failure to capitalize on all capacities for containing the new wave of pandemic will make it difficult for the country to overcome the current circumstances.
Nobody should be exempted from complying with the health protocols, he emphasized, stressing that the administration, the Armed Forces and all organizations must make planning to contain the pandemic a priority.
In a televised message delivered on Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei pointed to the recent wave of coronavirus, saying this is the first and foremost issue of the country.
Placing great emphasis on the fulfilment of duties and the implementation of decisions regarding the pandemic, Ayatollah Khamenei offered important pieces of advice to officials and the people.
According to the Health Ministry’s figures, more than 13.89 million Iranians have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while over 3.4 million have received the second dosage.
The death toll from the pandemic in Iran has exceeded 95,600 as the country has experienced the highest daily death rates in recent days.
