Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments came on Sunday as Iran faces crushing US sanctions blocking the country from selling its crude oil and accessing international financial markets.

Broadcast live on Sunday across Iran marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and the Islamic commemoration known as Isra and Miraj. He had called off his usual speech at Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad over the virus outbreak.

While Iranian officials in recent days have increasingly criticised those sanctions, 80-year-old Khamenei instead echoed Chinese officials about the possible origin of the coronavirus.

"I do not know how real this accusation is but when it exists, who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication?" Khamenei said. "Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more."

He also alleged the virus "is specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians, which they have obtained through different means".

"You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person," Khamenei said.

His comments come as Iran has reported more than 21,600 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus amid 1,685 reported deaths, according to government figures released Sunday. Experts still fear Iran may be underreporting its cases.

Across the Middle East, Iran represents eight of 10 cases of the virus and those leaving the Islamic Republic have carried it to other countries.

Iranian officials have criticised US offers of aid during the virus crisis as being disingenuous.

They have accused the Trump administration of wanting to capitalise on its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran since withdrawing from the nuclear deal in May 2018.

US sanctions have made it more difficult for Iran to access the global market.

On Sunday, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan echoed the call on the US to lift its sanctions.

"I want to appeal to President Trump on humanitarian grounds to lift the sanctions against Iran till the COVID-19 pandemic is over," Khan said in a tweet.

"The people of Iran are facing untold suffering as sanctions are crippling Iran's efforts to fight COVID-19. Humanity must unite to fight this pandemic," he said.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/iran-leader-refuses-cites-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory-200322145122752.html

Good move . For every free thing there's always a hidden charge. If it's not economic exploitation it could be malicious spy.

Bio-virus has taken the place of bio-weapons.

stickright:
Good move . For every free thing there's always a hidden charge. If it's not economic exploitation it could be malicious spy.

They are looking at USA to lift the sanctions placed on them for the sake of humanity
It would have been the right thing to do at this trying times

But i don't see that happening anytime soon

donbachi:
Bio-virus has taken the place of bio-weapons.

It will soon become a new form of war, there won't be need for physical engagement

They just wanna play safe...cos in dx life...you can't eat ur cake and have it back

There is nothing safe he is playing ! They want to use the Covid-19 Pandemic as a tool to Pressure the USA to lift sanctions on them..

That guy does not send the lives of his people ! All he is Intrested in Making weapons , Sponsoring Terrorist and Hate against America and Hate against Isreal!

@Righteousness89
Don't you think that should be the right thing to do, for USA to lift all sanctions impose on them? At least till everything is back to normal

Personally, I believe he cared about his people, outside China, they are one of the country this pandemic really hit the hardest

All human lives matter, be it Iranians or Italians!

choice17:
@Righteousness89
Don't you think that should be the right thing to do, for USA to lift all sanctions impose on them? At least till everything is back to normal

Personally, I believe he cared about his people, outside China, they are one of the country the epidemic really hit hard.

All human lives matter, be it Iranians or Italians!

@Choice17 the Iranian leadership does not care about his people...

Do you know close to 1000 people died after the death of Gen. Solemani.. all from the order of unnecessary protest from the President!

Did u know that Iranians who came out in support of the killings were killed! Internet services were locked down to avoid it from being aired!

The Iranian leadership is an Extremist Draconian leadership! Try and switch press tv and see all he scares about!

Iranians are one of the nicest citizens you can meet but a Mad Leadership..

All he majors in is Death to Isreal! Death to America!

Even if the sanctions are lifted, it will be diverted to Weapons and sponsoring of terrorist!

I have followed Iran leadership for a long time...

Righteousness89:

@Choice17 the Iranian leadership does not care about his people...

Do you know close to 1000 people died after the death of Gen. Solemani.. all from the order of unnecessary protest from the President!

Did u know that Iranians who came out in support of the killings were killed! Internet services were locked down to avoid it from being aired!

The Iranian leadership is an Extremist Draconian leadership! Try and switch press tv and see all he scares about!

Iranians are one of the nicest citizens you can meet but a Mad Leadership..

All he majors in is Death to Isreal! Death to America!

Even if the sanctions are lifted, it will be diverted to Weapons and sponsoring of terrorist!

I have followed Iran leadership for a long time...

Now I see your point. I just want everyone to have equal chance of eradicating this virus for good

Even mighty China struggled to contain it. You can imagine what will be happening in Iran