The numbers are at least twice as high, maybe three times. The spread of coronavirus in Iran is still an ascending slope and there is no sign of a decline in the number of cases or the death toll, the spokesman for the Iranian Health Ministry, Kianush Jahanpur said on Thursday March 12. He told reporters that the number of confirmed cases in Iran has reached 10,075 and the death toll had also taken another leap and reached 429 with 75 patients dying in the past day. This is a sharp rise compared to previous day’s figures of 9,000 infections and 354 deaths and the third highest infection and death toll in the world. Important, the death toll announced by the health Ministry is still less than half the sum total of cases counted by Radio Farda journalists based on statements by local officials in various parts of the country. This was the second day since President Hassan Rouhani has been put in charge of the national disease prevention and control task force. This is in contrast to how VP Mike Pence is handling the U.S. situation. Meanwhile, a moderator was placed next to the spokesperson who interrupted and intervened in the news conference possibly to make sure the moderator would not cross the government’s red lines. IRNA reported that Health Ministry officials have told local officials not to announce any figures about Ccoronavirus fatalities. Finally, Shiraz City Councillor Mehdi Hajati, and Mohammad Mokhtari, the captain of Damash soccer club in Gilan have been arrested for criticizing the government’s disease control policy. See “Iran Coronavirus Cases Exceed 10,000, With Rouhani’s Role Challenged,” Radio Farda, March 12, 2020.
“British-Iranian prisoner tells of coronavirus chaos in Iranian jail,” Patrick Wintour, Guardian, March 12, 2020.
The airstrikes against Iran-associated forces came after two U.S. service members and a UK national were killed in a rocket attack on an Iraqi base. “US-led coalition strikes Iranian military sites in Syria,” Mohamad Misto, AA, March 12, 2020.
“Iran says it has asked IMF for $5 billion emergency funding to fight coronavirus,” Reuters, March 12, 2020.
“Coronavirus: Iran’s Nowruz celebrations halted at the end of a terrible year,” Rohollah Faghihi, Middle East Eye, March 12, 2020.
“Iran Cyberspace Supreme Council Among 20 Worst Digital Predators in 2020,” Radio Farda, March 12, 2020. Reporters Without Borders has included Iran’s Cyberspace Supreme Council among the 20 worst digital predators in 2020 in a list published fors year’s World Day Against Cyber-Censorship. The Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council uses digital technology to “spy on and harass” journalists and thereby “jeopardize people’s ability to get news and information.” It also uses “online selective access and control,” and blocks news websites, platforms, and apps such as Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter to enforce censorship. The Council uses internet shutdowns which “are increasingly used to contain and suppress waves of street protests, and to restrict the transmission and circulation of independent information regarded as ‘counter-revolutionary’ or ‘subversive’ in nature,” RSF noted. The Council, presided over by the President, consists of the IRGC Chief Commander, Police Chief, head of the Islamic Propagation Organization, head of the state-run Radio and TV networks (IRIB), the chairman of parliament’s Cultural Committee, and seven others, all directly appointed by the Supreme Leader.