“Coronavirus: Iran has no plans to quarantine cities, Rouhani says,” BBC, February 26, 2020.
“A Utah business leader writes that Iran’s people must forge a path to a constitutional democracy,” Khosrow Semnani and Amir Soltani, UtahPolicy.com, February 26, 2020.
“In Iran, an Electoral Flop,” Ilan Berman, National Review, February 26, 2020.
“Iran to Sentence Citizens Who ‘Spreads Rumors’ about Coronavirus to Flogging, Three Years in Prison,” Zachary Evans, National Review, February 26, 2020.
“Rights Group Calls On UN To Take ‘Urgent Action’ For ‘Brutal Crackdown’ By Iran,” Radio Farda, February 26, 2020.
Iran will be emboldened to read op-eds like this one by Von Rennenkampff which presents Pres. Rouhani as the political authority in Iran. No, the Supreme Leader is. Let’s don’t shield the Leader from the constructive criticism that his decisions and actions deserve. Rouhani is not even “second in command”—he is sixth or seventh. See “What Reagan and Chamberlain can teach Trump about Iran and North Korea,” Mark Von Rennenkampff, op-ed, The Hill, February 26, 2020.
This blog usually focuses on news from Iran indicating the Regime’s trajectory, and whether it will change its policies and join the nations of the world. This entry highlights two observations, op-eds, by outsiders. The first item comes from the Post, offering Iran a possible path forward, and to demonstrate it doesn’t want nuclear weapons. The second op-ed evaluates the recent election and its low turnout and the intense disenchantment, and predicts that hard-liner will be the next president because of the successful manipulation of the electoral process by the government. The two op-eds are complimentary in the sense that the West can see what is coming, and that Iran can see what is coming, and its people. Coronavirus of a different form is capturing the Regime, and the citizens of the country will react, and the government has an opportunity to act for itself before it becomes a very sick country. See “Two Senate Iran hawks are pushing a new nuclear deal,” Josh Rogin, op-ed, Washington Post, , February 25, 2020, and “What Does the Iranian Election Tell Us?,” Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, op-ed, New York Times, February 25, 2020.
“‘Recipe for a massive viral outbreak’: Iran emerges as a worldwide threat,” David Kirkpatrick, Farnaz Fassihi, and Mujib Mashal, New York Times, February 25, 2020.
The country’s inability to prepare for and address the virus is shown in what the country chooses to report (in a heavily state-influenced outlet). See “Rouhani gives required directives for fighting coronavirus,” Mehr News, February 24, 2020. See also “Rouhani: Coronavirus outbreak will be reined in soon,” Tehran Times, February 25, 2020.
Other countries are concerned by reports and information the Regime suppressed details about the outbreak in Iran. “Pompeo accuses China and Iran of hiding coronavirus outbreak,” Laura Kelly, The Hill, February 25, 2020.
“Iran’s Supreme Leader Faces Some Supreme Problems,” Bobby Ghosh, Bloomberg, February 24, 2020.
Well, somebody is telling the truth. Either the FATF, or Iran. Rouhani says Iran—“[the country] is forerunner in fighting terrorism and money laundering.” “Iran does not deserve to be blacklisted by FATF: Rouhani,” Tehran Times, February 24, 2020.