Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, asking Pakistan to play its role in lifting the US sanctions on his country.

Citing diplomatic sources, 24NewsHD TV channel reported that the letter dated March 14 also contained an appeal to the country for providing aid to Iran to help tackle coronavirus pandemic.

Iran has been hit hard by coronavirus with 1,284 deaths and over 18,000 infected cases, making the third most-affected country in the world after Italy and China in terms of deaths. The US sanctions – resulting shortage of equipment, personal gear and medicines – are making it extremely difficult for Tehran to tackle the crisis.

The sources say Pakistan has expedited the efforts to ensure lifting the US sanctions and also provided assistance to Iran.

Imran, in an interview some days back, had urged the US to lift the sanctions imposed on Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran's Mission to the UN has urged the international community to call on the US to lift the sanctions immediately so that it could import medicine and medical equipment desperately needed to fight the pandemic.

Iran's UN Mission in a statement said that "while the US is trying to curb the virus internally, it is helping the spread of virus externally by undermining the professional capabilities of certain affected countries who try to combat its pandemic."