A group of 24 senior diplomats and defence officials, including four former Nato secretary generals, have urged Donald Trump to save "potentially hundreds of thousands of lives" lost to coronavirus across the Middle East by easing medical and humanitarian sanctions on Iran. The call has the backing of the former EU foreign affairs chief, the former director general of the World Health Organization, and senior American diplomats in the Bush, Clinton and Obama administrations. Iranians are facing "one of their country’s darkest times in living memory" the group says. "Reaching across borders to save lives is imperative for our own security and must override political differences among governments," it adds. From my side I also advise President Trump to save hundreds of thousands of lives across the Middle East by easing medical and humanitarian sanctions on Iran. My prayers are with all people afflicted by the virus, calling on God’s help to manifest health and healing in Iran and the International Community.