“Media in Iran are daring to question its official coronavirus death and infection counts, showing how the outbreak is challenging even the most authoritarian states,” Bill Bostock, Business Insider US, March 11, 2020.
The threats, criminal investigation, intimidation of relatives, death threats, defamation, and the freezing of assets continue for reporters in and of Iran. “UN experts demand Iran ceases harassing BBC Persian staff,” BBC, March 11, 2020.
Former Iranian Pres. Ahmadinejad has written to the WHO suggesting that the worldwide coronavirus outbreak was caused by unidentified laboratories who spread the epidemic as part of a biological war. Crazy Mahmoud! “Former Iranian President Spreads Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory, Calls On World Health Organization to Identify ‘Perpetrators’ of ‘Biological War’,” David Brennan, Newsweek, March 11, 2020.
““Iran has now recorded around 9,000 coronavirus cases in the country, nearly a thousand more cases in one day, Kianush Jahanpur, a health ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday. The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has reached 354, a rise of 63 in the past 24 hours, Jahanpur told state TV. Wednesday’s tally is the highest single-day toll since the start of the outbreak in February. Jahanpur added that 2,959 patients have fully recovered, and called on Iranians to avoid unnecessary trips and stay at home. Iran is now the worst infected country in the Middle East and the third worldwide, following China and Italy.” “Coronavirus: Iran records jump of 1,000 new cases as 63 die in 24 hours,” Middle East Eye, March 11, 2020.
“Strategic Partnership With China Lies at Root of Iran’s Coronavirus Outbreak,” Benoit Faucon, Sune Engel Rasmussen and Jeremy Page, Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2020.
“Iran closes museums, cultural centers during new year holidays,” Xinhua, March 11, 2020.
“Iran’s trade minister recovers from coronavirus,” Ahmet Dursun, AA, March 11, 2020.
“Iran agrees to send black boxes of downed airliner to Ukraine: official,” Allison Lampert, David Ljunggren, Reuters, March 11, 2020.
“Iran Says Virus Kills 63 More, Death Toll Climbs to 354,” AP, VOA, March 11, 2020.
“U.S. and coalition troops killed in rocket attack in Iraq, potentially spiking tensions with Iran,” Dan Lamothe and Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, March 11, 2020.
“Hezbollah officials test positive for coronavirus after meeting with Iran military,” Cleveland Jewish News, March 11, 2020.
So, Iran refuses to quarantine areas and provinces. Coronavirus will continue to spread like wildfire. Why won’t they do what China did? “Iran’s top security body rejects lockdown of epidemic areas,” Al-Monitor, March 11, 2020.
“Six-Year Prison Sentence For Iran Activist Who Called On Khamenei To Resign,” Radio Farda, March 11, 2020.
It is my understanding that this “discovery” is hogwash, another untruth. “Iran’s new drug able to relieve some of coronavirus’ severe symptoms, official says,” Trend News Agency, March 11, 2020.
“The first Friday without wishing for the death of other nations,’’ went one joke, shared on social media in Iran after Friday prayers were canceled on March 6. No “Death to America” or “Death to Saudi Arabia” or “Death to Iraq” or “Death to Israel” or “Death to England” or “Death to Canada” or (you get the idea, they’ve used many countries over the years at the Friday Prayer meeting in Tehran, Mashhad, etc.). “Coronavirus Ravages Iran All the Way to the Top,” Arsalan Shahla, Golnar Moteralli, Marc Champion, Bloomberg, March 10, 2020.