122 is the official number of those who died Thursday, reported Friday by the Health Ministry. “COVID-19: Iran Reports 122 New Deaths; Pakistan Mulls Reopening ‘Key Sectors’,” RFE/RL, April 10, 2020.
So what effect has Covid-19 had on Iran’s will to spread the Revolution, and on the readiness of its armed forces? There are different opinions, and based on what we are seeing Iran doing, some momentary recalculation but also no retreat from supplying asymmetric groups. I will post several stories here together. “Iran’s Military Likely Can’t Fight Thanks to Coronavirus,” Michael Rubin, National Interest, April 10, 2020; “Coronavirus hasn’t slowed Iran’s terrorism and proxy wars, analysts say,” Hollie McKayBy Hollie McKay, Fox, April 10, 2020; “Senior Official Says Iran Threat to US Troops in Iraq Remains ‘Significant’,” Asharq Al-Awsat, April 10, 2020; and “’After coronavirus: Iran may provoke more on nuke front’ – ex-CIA official,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, April 10, 2020. The last article includes, “Tehran is unlikely to stop its use of asymmetrical proxy terrorist attacks that have featured prominently in the regime’s foreign policy since 1979. The economic and coronavirus crises in Tehran may encourage the regime to undertake desperate measures and double down on this policy. That would likely include additional aggression against American diplomats and service members in Iraq and elsewhere.” See “Patriot deployment to Iraq is helpful, but insufficient against Iran,” Bradley Bowman and Liane Zivitski, Defense News, April 9, 2020.
“The US State Department accuses Tehran of “nuclear extortion”,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 10, 2020.
“Gaza is the world’s biggest prison, says Iran’s Judiciary chief,” Tehran Times, April 10, 2020. No, I think that I’d vote North Korea. But NK and Iran are allies.
“S. Korea gains U.S. license approval for humanitarian exports to Iran: official,” Yonhap News, April 10, 2020.
“Prominent Iran Lawmaker Demands Foreign Ministry To Summon China’s Ambassador,” Radio Farda, April 10, 2020.
“Coronavirus crisis: lessons for the Iranian government,” Kourosh Ziabari, Responsible Statecraft, April 10, 2020.
“Iran obliges businesses to obtain permit from health ministry,” Trend, April 10, 2020.
“Transferring shares of state-run companies should be expedited: Rouhani,” Tehran Times, April 10, 2020.
“All residents of a neighborhood in southwest Iran contract coronavirus,” Iran Human Rights Monitor, April 10, 2020.
“Iran’s regional ambitions are not going anywhere,” Raz Zimmt, Atlantic Council, April 10, 2020.
“Coronavirus And Death: The Changing Roles of Iran’s Clerics And Military Men,” Behrouz Turani, Radio Farda, April 10, 2020.