US could rethink Iran sanctions in light of coronavirus

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a news conference at the State Department, in Washington, yesterday. - Reuters

WASHINGTON: U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held out the possibility on Tuesday that the United States may consider easing sanctions on Iran and other nations to help fight the coronavirus epidemic but gave no concrete sign it plans to do so.

The comments reflected a shift in tone by the U.S. State Department, which has come under withering criticism for its hard line toward sanctions relief even in the face of a call by the U.N. secretary-general to ease U.S. economic penalties.