Al-Arabia – An Iranian state TV presenter who had previously likened coronavirus to the common cold, has been infected with the virus and is currently in quarantine. https://vid.alarabiya.net/2020/03/23/iran573d058f/iran573d058f___iran573d058f_video.mp4 TV presenter Atefeh Mirseyedi came under criticism for downplaying the threat of coronavirus in the early days of the outbreak in Iran. “Do not be worried at all. Have patience. It will …

Al-Arabia – Iraqi Shia political leader Muqtada al-Sadr blamed the legalization of same-sex marriage for causing the coronavirus pandemic. “One of the most appalling things that have caused this epidemic is the legalization of same-sex marriage,” al-Sadr said in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday. “Hence, I call on all governments to repeal this law immediately and without …

RFL/RE – A Muslim cleric applying what he called the “Prophet’s perfume” under the nose of coronavirus patients lying sick in a hospital in northern Iran has gone into hiding after a warrant for his arrest was issued. Morteza Kohansal, a proponent of Islamic medicine, was seen in a video on social media using his finger to dab the potion …

Radiofarda – Iran’s Defence Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami on March 26 said Iran has upgraded all its cruise missiles and is planning to increase the explosive power of their warheads, speed and maneuverability. According to a report by Iran’s DEFA Press which covers military news, Brigadier-General Hatami said in the current Iranian year (which started on March 21) cruise missiles …

Radiofarda – A renowned Iranian dissident and former Islamic revolutionary has lambasted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for describing the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus as “biological warfare.” In a statement published March 26 on an anti-Khamenei website, Abolfazl Qadyani (Ghadiani), a former advocate of the Islamic Republic has referred to the “Supreme Leader” as “Iran’s current tyrant,” whose …

Radiofarda – U.S. Offering Aid To Iran With No Conditions Attached Says State Department Spokesperson

Iran-HRM – Security forces have reportedly attacked inmates at risk of coronavirus infection at Tabriz Prison in southwestern Iran to stop their protest against prison conditions. Inmates staged a protest on Thursday to protest not being given leaves and sending new prisoners to the wards without going through the quarantine period. The protest was resumed on Thursday with some prisoners …

Iran-HRM – Coronavirus fatalities are on the rise in Iran’s prisons. The number of prisoners suspected or infected with coronavirus have been increasing as the regime refuses to provide prisoners with the means to protect themselves. There have been at least six coronavirus fatalities in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary (GTP) since the onset of the outbreak in Iran. According to reports, wards in GTP …

RFL/RE – FBI Director Chris Wray says the top U.S. law enforcement agency will never give up on “finding out what happened” to former agent Robert Levinson, who the U.S. government believes died while in Iranian custody.In an e-mail to FBI staff seen by the Associated Press on March 26, Wray said he had met with the family of Robert …

VOA – Standing over the still body of an intubated 5-year-old boy wearing nothing but a plastic diaper, an Iranian health care worker in a hazmat suit and mask begged the public for just one thing: Stop drinking industrial alcohol over fears about the new coronavirus. The boy, now blind after his parents gave him toxic methanol in the mistaken …