Social and Political

RFL/RE – Iran’s Health Ministry says the number of reported deaths linked to a rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak in the country has increased by four to 19.Ministry spokesman Kianush Dschahanpurat said on February 26 that a total of 139 people — an increase of 44 from the previous day — have tested positive for the virus in various parts of …

RFL/RE – The remaining members of the floundering Iran nuclear deal are meeting in Vienna for the first time since Germany, France, and Britain initiated dispute procedures that could reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran.The February 26 talks come as the signatories try to rescue the landmark 2015 accord, which has been faltering since U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from …

VOA – Iran’s growing coronavirus outbreak has triggered more angst in the country, preventing thousands of visiting Pakistanis from returning home and fueling fears of contagion in prisons. At least 5,000 Pakistanis have been stuck in Iran since authorities in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan closed the border with their western neighbor Sunday, according to a provincial government spokesman who …

VOA – The U.S. has imposed new sanctions on 13 entities and individuals in China, Iraq, Russia and Turkey because of their support of Iran’s missile program. The State Department says those sanctioned include a Chinese individual named Luo Dingwen, who has also been involved in supplying sensitive items to Pakistan’s missile program. Others include Chinese and Turkish export and …

VOA – Shiite shrines that attract tens of millions of visitors annually have come under focus in Iran as the country grapples with the spread of the coronavirus.   The outbreak of the virus in Iran prompted the government to request the closure of major shrines in cities like Qom, Mashhad and Shiraz, but Iran’s powerful clerics have rejected or ignored …

Al-Monitor – Iran is closer to an effective shutdown amid a worsening coronavirus epidemic that was first reported last Wednesday in the city of Qom, the center of its powerful clergy and home to much-visited holy shrines. As of Feb. 25, the official death toll from the country’s Health Ministry stood at 15, a figure likely to jump as suspected cases approach the 1,000 mark in at least 11 affected provinces.  …

Radiofarda – Iran’s Health Ministry has raised the number of coronavirus deaths from 12 to 15 on Tuesday, February 25 and says there are 34 new cases of infection bringing the total to 95 confirmed cases. A man disinfects the shrine of Saint Masoumeh against coronavirus in the city of Qom, February 25, 2020 Most of the 34 new cases …

Radiofarda – A Radio Farda investigation shows that the Revolutionary Guard owned Mahan Air has continued its flights to four Chinese cities in the past three weeks despite consistent denials by Iranian officials. The information has been collected from flight-tracking websites such as Flightradar24. As seen on Flightradar24 website in the screenshot below Mahan Air’s flight W576 from Shanghai was …

Radiofarda – In an unprecedented move, Iranian legislators voted against the general outlines of the government’s proposed budget bill apparently to stop further deliberations and the risk of getting exposed to coronavirus. In an open session of parliament (Majles) on Monday, February 24, out of 191 members present, 114 voted against the general outlines of the bill proposed by President …

Al-Arabia – Saudi Arabia issued preliminary sentences for eight Saudi nationals, charging them with spying for Iran and monitoring two foreign embassies in the Kingdom. The Saudi State Security Court sentenced one person to death and seven to prison on espionage charges. The death sentence was given to a person who was proven to have leaked confidential information to Iranian …