In this interview with South China Morning Post, MEI senior research fellow Asif Shuja says that US sanctions have indirectly quickened the spread of the coronavirus in the Middle East by encouraging Iran to strengthen its ties with its neighbours, causing a high concentration of people travelling within the region. Read the full interview here.

Image caption: Officials check medical equipment and coronavirus testing kits provided by the World Health Organisation at the al-Maktum International airport, Dubai. Photo: Karim Sahib/AFP.