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U.S. Will Block Iran’s $5 Billion IMF Loan Bid to Fight Virus

Trump administration argues officials have cash stashed away
Iran has reported about 4,000 deaths from virus so far

President Donald Trump — President Donald Trump
Photographer: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA via Getty Images

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April 8, 2020, 4:15 PM UTCUpdated onApril 8, 2020, 5:51 PM UTC

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The U.S. plans to block Iran’s request for a $5 billion emergency International Monetary Fund loan to fight coronavirus, the latest signal that the Trump administration isn’t going to ease up its maximum-pressure campaign despite a growing international outcry.