Month: March 2020

Iran said Saturday that 123 people had died on Friday.  “Iran Covid-19 deaths surpass 1,500, infections exceed 20,000,” New Straits Times, AFP, March 21, 2020.

Still, no quarantines.  This will only get worse in Iran.  “Iran’s Regime: “We Have Nothing Called Quarantine”,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, March 21, 2020.

“Iranian Regime’s Reckless Disregard Made the Coronavirus Outbreak Worse,” James Phillips and Nicole Robinson, commentary, The Heritage Foundation, March 21, 2020.

“Iran Reports 123 Coronavirus Deaths in 24 Hours, 20,000 Total Infections,” Edward Yeranian, VOA, March 21, 2020.

“Rouhani: 70% of Iran may contract coronavirus,” Middle East Monitor, March 21, 2020.

A Mahan Air pilot, Asghar Loran, has died from coronavirus.  He flew between Iran and China—two of the leading hotspots for the outbreak of the deadly virus.  Mahan Air is under U.S. sanctions for its smuggling weapons to Iran’s proxies to Syria and across the Middle East for the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the IRGC.  “Pilot from Iran’s ‘terror’ Mahan Air dies from coronavirus,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, March 21, 2020.

Let’s hear it for the people of Iran!  “Iranians Turn to Good Deeds in Dark Times,” RFE/RL, March 19, 2020.

“The pandemic highlights Islamic republic’s religious fringe, who are bent on defying Health Ministry guidance.”  See “‘Sacred ignorance’: Covid-19 reveals Iran split,” Kourosh Ziabari, Asia Times, March 20, 2020.

“Rouhani orders closure of shopping centers across country,” Mehr News Agency, March 20, 2020.

“Pompeo says China, Russia, Iran are spreading disinformation about coronavirus,” Olivia Beavers, The Hill, March 20, 2020.

“Iran, France to Swap Iranian Engineer, French Academic,” Reuters, March 20, 2020.

“Family of Plane Crash Victim Details Iran’s Threats, Harassment,” Masih Alinejad, Sirwan Kajjo, and Mehdi Jedinia, VOA, March 19, 2020.

“Iran Statistical Center Reports 35 Percent Inflation In Past 12 Months,” Radio Farda, March 20, 2020.

“Finland First, Iran 118th In World Happiness Index,” Radio Farda, March 20, 2020.

“Iranian new year begins with a growing coronavirus crisis,” Mehrnaz Samimi, IranSource, March 20, 2020.

“Iran furloughs imprisoned US Navy vet amid virus concerns,” Eric Tucker, AP, March 20, 2020.

Iran is witnessing Covid-19 infection rates of 50 new cases per hour, while deaths are occurring every 10 minutes, the country’s health ministry announced in a tweet on Thursday through spokesman Kianush Jahanpur.  “Iran flags 50 new coronavirus cases per hour,” Alison Tahmizian Meuse, Asia Times, March 19, 2020.  And see “Iran’s death toll from new coronavirus outbreak rises to 1,284,” Reuters, March 19, 2020.

“More Coronavirus Patients Than Officially Announced, Iran Medical Official Says,” Radio Farda, March 19, 2020.

“Iranian press review: Iranians ignore coronavirus travel warning ahead of Nowruz holiday,” Middle East Eye, March 19, 2020.

“Iran Knows Who to Blame for the Virus: America and Israel,” Kasra Aarabi, FP, March 19, 2020.

“Iran Says U.S. Health Care System Can’t Handle Coronavirus, Offers To Help If Sanctions Are Lifted,” Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, March 19, 2020.

“Iran furloughs imprisoned US Navy vet amid virus concerns,” Eric Tucker, ABC, AP, March 19, 2020.

“Zarif Calls For ‘Reconstructing’ Iran’s System Of Governance,” Radio Farda, March 19, 2020.

“Persian New Year traditions transformed by coronavirus in Iran,” CNN, March 19, 2020.

“Coronavirus underscores Iran’s internal struggle over its relationship with the world,” Alex Vatanka, Middle East Institute, March 19, 2020.

“Iran’s supreme leader to pardon 10,000 prisoners,” Middle East Online, March 19, 2020.

147 people died on Tuesday (yesterday), Iran announced today, a 15% jump.  Not a surprise in their dangerous situation and because there are no quarantines or shelter in place orders.  “Virus death toll spikes in Iran, with total now at 1,135,” Nasser Karimi and Aya Batrawy, AP, ABC, March 18, 2020.

“Rouhani: Iran Responded, Will Respond to Assassination of Soleimani,” Hamodia, March 18, 2020.

Cuba has sent Nowruz wishes to the Regime along with solidarity.  In addition, Cuba has sent its message of support in the efforts against coronavirus.  “Cuban ambassador sends message to Iran’s people,” Prensa Latina, March 18, 2020.

“Iran’s supreme leader to pardon 10,000 prisoners, including political ones,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, March 18, 2020.

“Iran Holds International Cartoon Festival on Coronavirus Battle,” Iran Front Page, March 18, 2020.

They can get a postage stamp out, but can’t close a shrine to help “stamp” out the virus.  “Iran’s coronavirus stamp salutes medical workers,” Denise McCarty, Linn’s Stamp News, March 18, 2020.

“Iran sees biggest single-day increase in coronavirus fatalities,” Rebecca Klar, The Hill, March 18, 2020.

“Iran Regime’s Infighting Over Consequences of Non-Quarantining of Qom,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, March 18, 2020.

Projected death estimates range from 12,000 to over 3 million, and the peak of the curve is not expected for at least another month per researchers at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran.  “Iran faces catastrophic death toll from coronavirus,” Shabnam von Hein, DW, March 17, 2020.

State TV reported Tuesday that Iran had deployed teams to screen travelers leaving major cities in 13 provinces.  But here’s what you need to know—there are 31 provinces, and nowhere is the Regime using quarantine.  There will most likely be mass death.  “Iranian state TV warns ‘millions’ could die from coronavirus,” AP, Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2020.

“’People Are Dying Left and Right.’ Inside Iran’s Struggle to Contain Its Coronavirus Outbreak,” Tara Kangarlou, Time, March 17, 2020.

Pres. Rouhani is incorrect about the curve reaching its zenith, as he said yesterday Monday and reported on this blog.  Instead, the Health Ministry reports today Tuesday that just yesterday in Iran that 135 died, and now the total (reported by the Health Ministry) died of COVID-19 is 988 country-wide.  On Saturday, 113 had died, also reported on this blog on Mar. 15.  Rouhani’s assertions are false hope for the Iranian people, if they are listening.  “Iran sees 135 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours,” KGET, NBC, March 17, 2020.  See also “In new spike, Iran says 135 more people died of coronavirus,” Jon Gambrell AP, Boston Globe, March 17, 2020.

There is a real power struggle going on inside Iran right now.  The government response to Coronavirus is the most recent manifestation of the Leader/IRGC military/hardliners against the President, an attempt by the Supreme Leader to keep control of the country and the Revolution.  As this plays out, the President will not be able to stand against this.  Last night in Mashhad (Imam Reza shrine) and Qom (Fatima Masumeh shrine)(usually open 24 hours per day; Shiites often kiss or touch holy symbols, and believe they can be cured of illness) scores of protesters stormed and entered, backed by some Shia clerics.  They said things like, “We are here to say that Tehran is damn wrong to do that!” and “The health minister is damn wrong to do that, the president is damn wrong to do that!”  See “Faithful in Iran storm closed shrines,” John Bowden, The Hill, March 17, 2020, and “Power Struggle Hampers Iran’s Coronavirus Response,” Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, March 17, 2020.

Iran is not taking care of coronavirus, but continues to fester attacks against the U.S.  “Iraqi officials say rockets strike Baghdad’s Green Zone,” AP, March 17, 2020.

“Where Is Iran’s Supreme Leader?,” Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, March 17, 2020.

“The Good Side Of The Coronavirus? IDF Says Iran’s “Hostile Enemy Activity” Toward Israel Has Waned,” The Yeshiva World, March 17, 2020.

“’Virus at Iran’s gates’: How Tehran failed to stop outbreak,” AP, March 17, 2020.

“Iran State TV Ejects Actor For Criticizing Coronavirus Control Policy,” Radio Farda, March 17, 2020.

“Iran forces recruit 9,000 Shia fighters in Syria,” Middle East Monitor, March 17, 2020.

Days of denials, a national independence/Revolution celebration, and an election (in which they needed everyone to come out and cast “support” ballots for the Regime) helped the coronavirus spread quickly in Iran.  And the lifeline of airline flights to China.  See “Explained Coronavirus in Iran: Why Did the Islamic Republic Get Hit So Hard, So Fast,” AP, Haaertz, March 17, 2020.

“Coronavirus pandemic ‘could kill millions’ in Iran,” Al Jazeera, March 17, 2020.  A state television journalist, who is also a medical doctor, gave the warning on Tuesday citing a study by Tehran’s prestigious Sharif University of Technology, which offered three scenarios regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran.  Dr Afruz Eslami said if people begin to cooperate now, Iran will see 120,000 infections and 12,000 deaths before the outbreak is over. If they offer medium cooperation, there will be 300,000 cases and 110,000 deaths, she added.  But if people fail to follow any guidance, it could collapse Iran’s already-strained medical system, Eslami said. If the “medical facilities are not sufficient, there will be four million cases, and 3.5 million people will die,” she said. Eslami did not elaborate what metrics the study used, but reporting it on Iran’s tightly controlled state TV represented a major change for a country whose officials had for days denied the severity of the crisis.  At least 12 Iranian politicians and officials, both sitting and former, have now died of the illness, and 13 more have been infected and are either in quarantine or being treated.

“Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed temporarily from Iranian prison,” Patrick Wintour and Kate Proctor, Guardian, March 17, 2020.

This is one of the illicit dual-use channels Iran uses, and this one has at least been partially shut down.  “Iranian national extradited to Texas after allegedly exporting ‘military sensitive items’ to Iran,” Justine Coleman, The Hill, March 17, 2020.

A funny video about eggplants falling from the sky in Tehran got five multi-media students arrested.  “Iran students sorry for ‘raining aubergines’ videos,” BBC, March 17, 2020.

President Hassan Rouhani said Monday the peak of new infections in Iran has passed.  “Based on the figures, we are past the peak of the virus, but I still suggest people stay at home, and in case of urgency, observe all health protocols.”  But Iran’s numbers have been increasing in the past week, every day–that means the curve is still going up, not slowing down.  We’ll see if Rouhani’s numbers in the next few days show decline.  Also in the news, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Hashem Bathaie Golpayegani, of the Assembly of Experts, died of coronavirus today.  See “Iranian Senior Cleric Dies From Coronavirus As President Says Infections Peak Has Passed,” David Brennan, Newsweek, March 16, 2020, and “Top Iranian cleric dies of Covid-19, Rouhani condoles death,” Outlook, March 16, 2020.

“Iran asks people to stay home for Nowruz holidays,” Al-Monitor, March 16, 2020.

“Zarif Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts Against US Sanctions,” Financial Tribune, March 16, 2020.

“Iran on ‘Warlike’ Footing as Senior Leader Admits He Has Coronavirus,” Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, March 16, 2020.  See also “Top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader infected with coronavirus: Tasnim,” Reuters, March 12, 2020.  Ali Akbar Velayati, who is in essence the real Foreign Minister in his role as chief foreign policy adviser on the Leader’s staff, is also the head of Tehran’s Masih Daneshvari hospital and had contacts with many coronavirus patients in the past few weeks.  He is now under quarantine now, which is another blow to the Leader.

“IDF indicates Iran scaling back terror activity in light of coronavirus,” Judah Ari Gross, Times of Israel, March 16, 2020.

“Virus-hit Iran closes four key religious sites,” AFP, March 16, 2020.

“How Pollution Aggravates the Impact of Coronavirus,” Devra Davis, USNews, March 16, 2020.

“Iran reports biggest single-day jump of coronavirus deaths as president rules out quarantine,” Stephen Sorace, Fox, March 15, 2020.  Iran’s Health Ministry reported 113 more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, it biggest single-day jump in fatalities since the outbreak began.

But the shrine should be shut for 3-4 months.  Instead, the Imam Reza shrine in Iran’s holy city (and second largest city) of Mashhad will only be closed during the country’s New Year Holidays (Nowruz) for just a few days associated with March 20.  “Iran to shut top Shiite shrine during Persian new year holidays,” Gulf News, March 14, 2020.

“Iran warns of overwhelmed health facilities,” Justine Coleman, The Hill, March 15, 2020.

“Iran Launched an App That Claimed to Diagnose Coronavirus. Instead, It Collected Location Data on Millions of People,” David Gilbert, Vice, March 15, 2020.

“Iran, Cameroon Lead Worldwide Declines In The Rule Of Law,” Kevin Penton, Law360, March 15, 2020.

“Top Iran Ayatollah Denies Agreeing To Coronavirus Vaccine From Israel,” Radio Farda, March 15, 2020.

“Corrupt Politicians, Shady ‘Charitable’ Entities And The Coronavirus Crisis In Iran,” Reza Haqiqatnezhad, Radio Farda, March 15, 2020.

“Iran’s Second Largest City At Risk Of Coronavirus Disaster,” Maryam Sinaiee, Radio Farda, March 14, 2020.

“Top Iranian general Shabani dies of Covid-19,” New Straits Times, March 14, 2020.  Brig. Gen. Nasser Shabani had at one time been responsible for quelling internal dissent.

April 8 is the big day, the day after which Iran’s rate and numbers will decline, per the Regime’s Minister of Health, Saeid Namak, who also said that June 20 is also a big day—when the crisis will be over in Iran.  Reminds me of “Let it be written, let it be done.”  (Pharaoh Ramses, played by Yul Brynner, in “The Ten Commandments”).  BTW, there is no health official anywhere in the world predicting the peak and end dates for their country-wide illness—except for Iran’s Health Minister.  See “Iran Health Minister Says Coronavirus Epidemic Will Peak In April,” Radio Farda, March 11, 2020.

“WHO says Iran’s strategies to control COVID-19 ‘in the right direction’,” Tehran Times, March 14, 2020.

“Iran’s coronavirus ‘diagnosis’ app looks more like a surveillance tool,” Jon Fingas, Engadget, March 14, 2020.

“UN Human Rights Council applauds Iran in periodic review,” Times of Israel, March 14, 2020.  What type of a world do we live in?  Where is the UN Sec. Gen., deriding the most recent HRCouncil report praising Iran?  Iran was backed by North Korea, Syria, Russia, and China, over 100 countries actually, and Iran will in later reports praise them.  China said it “commends Iran’s efforts to eradicate poverty, enhance social security, protect the rights of vulnerable groups and hopes Iran will continue to drive economic and social development to provide a solid basis for the enjoyment of all human rights.”  Russia praised Iran’s “cooperation with human rights treaty bodies and openness for dialogue.”  Deputy chief of Iran’s High Council on Human Rights, Majid Tafreshi, said that all citizens in Iran are “equally protected by the law,” and said that journalists and NGOs have freedom of expression.  Amnesty International’s most recent report, in contrast, has it right—Iran is a serial abuser of human rights and is guilty of crimes against humanity.  Iran refused to allow the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Iran to tour the country to investigate its human rights conditions.  According to Amnesty International’s latest report, Iran’s authorities have “heavily suppressed the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Security forces used lethal force unlawfully to crush protests, killing hundreds, and arbitrarily detaining thousands of protesters. The authorities arbitrarily detained over 200 human rights defenders and imposed sentences of imprisonment and flogging against many of them.  “Women continued to face discrimination and the authorities intensified their crackdown against women’s rights defenders campaigning against forced veiling laws. Ethnic and religious minorities faced entrenched discrimination,” the report said.  “Torture and other ill-treatment, including through the denial of medical care, remained widespread and systematic; they were committed with impunity. Cruel, inhuman and degrading judicial punishments were carried out.”  “Scores of people were executed, sometimes in public; several were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.  There were systematic violations of fair trial rights.”

“Khamenei Calls Coronavirus ‘Possible Biological Attack’, Asks Guards To Contain It,” Radio Farda, March 13, 2020.

Iran said Friday the security forces will clear the streets nationwide within 24 hours so all citizens can be checked for coronavirus.  Major General Mohammad Bagheri said, “During the next 10 days, the entire Iranian nation will be monitored once through cyberspace, by phone and, if necessary, in person, and those suspected of being ill will be fully identified.”  I’m not sure how they will do this.  Nor do many believe they actually will.  See “Iran imposes lockdown to check all citizens for virus,” Ahmad Parhizi, AFP, March 13, 2020.

“Letter to WHO Over Iran’s Concealment of Coronavirus,” Pooya Stone, Iran in Focus, March 13, 2020.

Despite other airlines in Iran being grounded, the Supreme Leader-led IRGC Mahan Air continues to fly to China and back, regardless of Pres. Rouhani government orders for all airlines to cease.  So, IRGC wins over coronavirus.  See “What Spurs Iran’s Mahan Air To Continue Flights To China Despite Public Outrage?,” Maryam Sinaiee, Radio Farda, March 13, 2020.

Rate of death and contraction is about 3 times higher in Iran than the Regime reports.  Fine reporting by the WPost.  See the article, “The Coronavirus burial pits so vast they’re visible from space,” Erin Cunningham and Dalton Bennett, Washington Post, March 12, 2020.  Now that this story is out, a day old, you realize what the NRO has been watching for weeks.

A number of outlets are airing this story–these citizens thought or were told that drinking this moonshine would block coronavirus.  “Iran: 73 people died after consuming toxic alcohol,” Ahmet Dursun, AA, March 12, 2020.

“CBC News: Iran’s COVID-19 crisis delaying planned transfer of Flight 752’s black boxes to Europe,” Unian, March 13, 2020.

The Pentagon said Friday it would keep two aircraft carrier task forces in the Gulf region after carrying out strikes in Iraq on five depots for Iran-supplied rockets.  Early Friday the U.S. military launched air strikes against weapons depots of Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iraqi armed faction backed by Iran.  The strikes, by manned aircraft, were in retaliation for a Wednesday rocket attack attributed to Kataeb Hezbollah that killed two American soldiers and a British soldier at Iraq’s Taji air base.  The deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Harry S. Truman marked the first time since 2012 that the Pentagon had authorized keeping aircraft carriers in the Gulf.  McKenzie said Tehran had not pulled back its regional military operations since the U.S. killing in January of Qasem Soleimani, the top Iranian general who directed operations against U.S. forces and managed Tehran’s proxies.  He added however that its ability to direct groups like Kataeb Hezbollah had been diminished by the loss of Soleimani and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Iranian leadership.  “It’s harder for them to make effective decisions… Someone has replaced him. I don’t think that someone is going to be as good as him in the short term. We’ll see how it works out in the long term,” McKenzie said.  The U.S. does not believe Iran wants a direct conflict, preferring instead to continue to act through proxies to harass American forces and promote its own ideology in the region.  See “US Keeping Two Carriers in Gulf to Deter Iran Proxy Attacks,” Sylvie Lanteaume, AFP, March 13, 2020.  See also, “Coronavirus Tension Makes Iran More Dangerous, U.S. General Says,” Glen Carey, Bloomberg, March 12, 2020.

“Iran Prepares for Political Upheaval Amid a Coronavirus Scare,” Jason Brodsky, National Interest, March 13, 2020.  An interesting story about the illogical use of a non-physician health minister, and the Supreme Leader’s duplicate health network watching and criticizing the already embattled government led by Pres. Rouhani.  The Leader stays above it all, willing to take credit but no blame.

“Iraq base attack: US in retaliatory strikes on Iran-backed fighters,” BBC, March 13, 2020.

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.