President Rouhani doubles down on IMF to approve $5bn loan, accusing the organisation of discrimination against Iran. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pressed on Wednesday for a $5bn emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund to fight the Middle East’s worst coronavirus outbreak, saying it would be guilty of discrimination if it withholds the money.
Rouhani also said some businesses will remain closed until further notice after authorities announced last week they will begin to ease a shutdown order from April 11. Iran’s central bank wrote last month to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to request the $5bn from its Rapid Financing Initiative, an emergency programme that aids countries faced with sudden shocks such as natural disasters. It was Tehran’s first request for IMF aid since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.“I urge international organisations to fulfil their duties … We are a member of the IMF,” Rouhani said at a televised cabinet meeting. “There should be no discrimination in giving loans.”
Source: aljazeera.com/
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
