Radiofarda – The Spokesman of President Hassan Rouhani’s administration said Wednesday the government will soon impose strict lockdowns to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. The coronavirus epidemic, even according to the officially announced death toll and infection cases has claimed the lives of at least 1,934 and infected more than 24,000 Iranians. Many believe that the …

Radiofarda – As the number of coronavirus patients in Iran soared to nearly 25,000, an outspoken lawmaker has harshly criticized President Hassan Rouhani for preventing restrictive measures to counter the outbreak, accusing him of suffering from delusion about conspiracies. Reiterating his opposition to even a partial lockdown, Rouhani had said on Sunday that it was “a counter-revolutionary conspiracy to shut …

Radiofarda – The international humanitarian organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders expressed deep surprise in a statement March 24 after Iranian Health Ministry officials put a stop to its plans to launch a 50-bed intensive care field hospital in Isfahan for COVID-19 victims. MSF has sent two chartered planes to Iran carrying equipment and the inflatable hospital, …

Radiofarda – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday urged the international community to urgently re-evaluate any sanctions imposed on countries such as Iran, to prevent their healthcare systems from collapse. “At this crucial time, both for global public health reasons, and to support the rights and lives of millions of people in these countries, sectoral sanctions should …

Al-Arabia – Iran may face a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Wednesday, as some Iranians ignored guidance issued by health officials to contain the spread of the disease in the country. “Unfortunately, some Iranians ignored advice from health ministry officials and traveled during the (Iranian) New Year holidays … This could cause a …

Iran-HRM – Iran’s COVID-19 fatalities have surpassed 10,900 yet the Iranian regime still refuses to properly address the crisis that has engulfed the country. The National Council of Resistance has announced that at least 10,900 people have died of coronavirus in 212 cities across Iran.Over 600 people have died of COVID-19 in the city of Isfahan and more than 500 in Kashan, …

Radiozmaneh – Political prisoners in the Greater Tehran Prison System have started a mass hunger strike to demand being released from prisons due to the rapid spread of coronavirus infections in Iran. Some inmates have tested positive inside Iranian overpopulated prisons. The prison authorities are only transferring inmates from ward to ward as a solution and not implementing the social …

Al-Monitor – Al-Monitor – contributor and economic analyst Bijan Khajehpour highlighted corruption as a major reason why the Iranian government was so slow in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic during an exclusive webinar today with Al-Monitor President Andrew Parasiliti.  “If I were in charge of Iran, I would clear corruption as the No. 1 national security threat in Iran,” said Khajehpour. …

Al-Monitor – A team of nine doctors deployed to Iran by international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders — known by its French acronym, MSF — is expected to head back home without even starting its relief operations aimed at containing the novel coronavirus outbreak. “While we offer our gratitude to MSF, with the national mobilization plan in place and all medical …

Radiofarda – Under apparent pressure from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and ultraconservative allies of the country’s Supreme Leader, Tehran has rejected the offer of medical help by a team sent by the renowned international non-governmental group, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders. Earlier on March 22, MSF had sent a consignment of medical aid to Iran, …