radiofarda – The Islamic Republic’s first ambassador to Vatican, 81-year old cleric Hadi Khosroshahi, has died of coronavirus in Iran, local media reported. A prominent figure in Iran’s hole city of Qom, Khosroshahi was a black-turbaned cleric carrying the title of “Sayyid,” meaning a descendent of Prophet Muhammad. Khosroshahi was transferred to a hospital in Tehran on Wednesday and tested …
Read More »Monthly Archives: February 2020
Swiss Humanitarian Channel To Iran Takes Effect
radiofarda – A new Swiss payment mechanism allowing food, medicine and other humanitarian aid to be sent to Iran without stumbling over US sanctions has officially taken effect, Bern said Thursday. The system was created to allow Swiss companies in the food, pharmaceutical and medical sectors to make aid shipments to Iran without drawing the wrath of Washington for breaching …
Read More »Coronavirus Hits Iranian Vice President, Other Officials As Disease Continues To Spread
Four Lawmakers In Iran Test Positive As Coronavirus Forces Cancellation Of Friday Prayers
rferl.org – Four Iranian lawmakers have tested positive for the coronavirus as the rapid spread of the outbreak forced the cancellation of Friday Prayers in many mosques across the country. Mohammad Ali Vakili, a member of the parliamentary presidium, said in a tweet on February 28 that four of 30 lawmakers in the Majlis, or parliament, tested positive for the …
Read More »Iran Coronavirus Death Toll Climbs With Fatality Ratio Much Higher Than World Average
Radiofarda – Iran announced more COVID-19 coronavirus deaths for a second time on Thursday, pushing the total to 26 which is still disproportionate to the official number of infections at 245, in comparison with China and other countries. Kianoush Jahanpour, Spokesman of the Health Ministry in his latest update said the death toll and infection cases have risen to 26 …
Read More »Under Public Pressure Iran Closing All Schools For A Week To Fight Coronavirus
Radiofarda – Under heavy pressure from teachers and parents, a media adviser to the Islamic Republic Health Minister said in a tweet on Wednesday, February 26, all schools across Iran would be closed for a week. “As the head of Iran’s counter-coronavirus task force, the Health Minister, Saeed Namaki, has announced the closure of all schools and educational centers across …
Read More »Iran Clerics Encourage Superstition, As Public Gripped By Coronavirus Panic
Radiofarda – Iranian clerics’ answer to the outbreak of the new Coronavirus COVID-19 has been a deadly blend of superstition, secrecy and denial amid serious concerns among the people. The government says 19 people have dies and 139 others diagnosed with the virus. Many Iranians believe the official numbers are a deliberate underestimation, as officials first hid the news about …
Read More »Russia Pulls Out Of $1.3 Billion Railway Project With Iran
Radiofarda – The state-owned Russian Railways has pulled out from a $ 1.3 billion project for electrification of a railway line between Garmsar, in Iran and Ince Burun (Narrow Cape) in Turkey. The Russain company has given up the project under the pressure of U.S. sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, Interfax reported on Tuesday, February 25. The …
Read More »Iran Coronavirus Cases Spike, Saudi Arabia Halts Pilgrimages
RFL/RE – The number of deaths linked to the coronavirus outbreak in Iran has increased by seven to 26 over the past 24 hours, authorities say, as the disease continues to spread in many regions of the world. Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on February 27 that a total of 245 people had tested positive for the virus — …
Read More »U.S. Lists Leader Of Iran-Backed Shi’ite Militia In Iraq As ‘Global Terrorist’
RFL/RE – The United States has declared the leader of the Iran-backed Kataib Hizbullah (KH) militant group in Iraq a terrorist following a number of recent rocket attacks on bases hosting U.S. and other foreign troops in Iraq. A State Department official on February 26 said the United States had listed Ahmad al-Hamidawi, head of the armed faction of the group, as …
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