TEHRAN, Iran, April 16
Trend:
While the role of China's Bank of Kunlun in transactions with Iran has changed, the two countries continue trade, deputy head of Iran and China joint Chamber of Commerce Majid-Reza Hariri told Trend.
"The limitation of Iran's transaction with China and Bank of Kunlun is not a new revelation since the bank has previously announced about the restrictions," he said.
"The role of the bank in connection with Iran and trade with China has decreased long time ago, while alternative channels have become operational," Hariri said.
The official added that the bank's role in Iran-China financial trade has changed, upon an agreement from both sides.
"The trade between the two countries has been affected by the coronavirus spread, but there is no problem in bank transactions with China's Kunlun Bank," he said.
"There are individuals that are not working with China and they create rumors to interrupt ties between Iran and China, while there is another group that have trade with China and was aware of the changes before financial ties got limited," Hariri said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
Iran continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread of the coronavirus. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.