“Iran’s daily tally of coronavirus deaths hit a record high of 434 on Sunday, the health ministry announced, and the head of a top medical body said the actual toll was at least three times higher than the official count. The deaths, announced by Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari on state TV, take the official toll to 35,298 in the Middle East’s worst-hit country. She said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 7,719 to 620,491. The head of Iran’s Medical Council, Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, doubted the accuracy of the official toll and warned that Iran had reached a “catastrophic mortality rate”, the Students News Agency ISNA reported on Sunday. “The official death toll is only based on the number of registered patients,” Zafarghandi told ISNA. “Through field surveys in hospitals and cemeteries, our Council has obtained a figure at least three times higher than the official death toll.””  See “Iran’s daily COVID-19 deaths hit record; health official says true toll worse,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, November 1, 2020.

“Ahwazi group claims Iran ‘kidnapped’ former leader, Habib Asyud, in Turkey.”  See “Iran arrests leading Arab separatist figure abroad,” Kaamil Ahmed, Middle East Eye, November 1, 2020.

“Iran Imposes Travel Restrictions as Virus Deaths Hit Record,” Bourse and Bazaar, November 1, 2020.  “Iran on Sunday said it will restrict travel to the cities hit hardest by the novel coronavirus, state TV said, amid a record high of daily COVID-19 deaths. The measure takes effect at Monday midday and will last until Friday, the broadcaster reported, citing an order by the interior ministry. The restrictions prevent residents from leaving and non-residents from entering based on vehicle plate numbers, but do not apply to public transportation, it added. It applies to the capitals of 25 provinces considered “red”—the highest level on Iran’s colour-coded risk scale—and includes the capital Tehran with more than 8 million residents. Violators will be fined, the order added.”