136 people died on Sunday. “Iran: Coronavirus death toll rises to 3,739,” Zehra Nur Duz, AA, April 6, 2020.
“‘Trump more dangerous than coronavirus’: Iranian admiral,” April 6, 2020, and “Human Rights Watch Urges US to Ease Sanctions on Iran Amidst Growing Pandemic,” VOA. April 6, 2020. With regard to the calls from several to release sanctions because Iranians are suffering from coronavirus, I have four observations. The Regime for 40 years has squandered its immense hundreds of billions of dollars of oil and gas wealth to spread the Revolution, intimidate neighbors, and use terror. No other country acts as Iran. Second, this huge wealth was and is mismanaged and not spent on public health, schools, infrastructure, etc. as it should. Third, Iran refuses to comply with FATF global money-laundering rules. Last, in this year’s budget, just this budget year, if Iran would give up its regime of terror against other states it would have enough money itself to take care of its people and their coronavirus needs. Per capita, Iran has so much in sovereign wealth for its people if it would only choose to spend the money the way it should.
“Iranian official backtracks after calling Chinese Covid-19 figures a ‘joke’,” Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, April 6, 2020.
Didn’t take long for the previous story to be addressed. “Questioning China’s Coronavirus Numbers Causes Diplomatic, Political Uproar In Iran,” Maryam Sinaiee, Radio Farda, April 6, 2020.
Pres. Rouhani says two-thirds of government employees will return to their offices on April 11. “Iran to resume low-risk economic activities amid COVID-19 crisis,” Al Jazeera, April 6, 2020.
“Iran’s funeral traditions crumble as bereaved mourn in coronavirus isolation,” Rohollah Faghihi, Middle East Eye, April 6, 2020.
“Ambassador lists China’s humanitarian aid to Iran,” Tehran Times, April 5, 2020.
“Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mousavi Says Tehran Has Not And Will Not Ask U.S. For Help Amid Coronavirus – State TV,” Reuters, April 6, 2020.
“Five missiles fired at ‘American’ oil company in Iraq – Iranian media,” Seth Frantzman, April 6, 2020.
It will be interesting to see if the announced funding actually reaches the transport businesses. “$500m Allocated to Compensate for Losses of Iranian Transport Companies,” IFP, April 6, 2020.
“Pro-Iran factions in Iraq maneuver to topple another PM-designate,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, April 6, 2020.
“300 medical workers infected with coronavirus in Iran,” MENAFM, AP, April 6, 2020.
Another claim that the U.S. caused the virus, but no production of evidence of such. “Iranian official calls for probe into US role in creation of coronavirus,” Jerusalem Post, April 6, 2020. The Head of Iran’s Civil Defense Organization, Brig. Gen. Gholam Reza Jalali, also said, “The US has been always [been] accused of having a role, either intentionally or accidentally, in the biological events, like the (outbreak of) Ebola.”
“Iran’s virus deaths soar over 10,000 as regime deceives public – report,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 6, 2020. A long posting from this article. “The rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran have fabricated the number of Iranian coronavirus deaths in the Middle East’s epicenter of the deadly disease, with the real count of victims exceeding 10,000 people, according to Western security sources. “The number of corona deaths in Iran is many times higher than the authorities there have previously admitted… the death toll passed the 10,000 mark about 10 days ago when Iran officially reported slightly more than 2,000 deaths,” German paper Die Welt reported Sunday. The death rate in Iran is “four to five times higher than the regime admitted then,” the report said. “The current figures are currently officially 55,743 sufferers and 3,452 dead. The current death toll is apparently much higher. On Sunday, it was 12,380, according to Western security sources.” Ebrahim Raisi, the Islamic Republic’s chief judge and a possible successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, ordered that thousands of coronavirus deaths be attributed to diseases such as heart failure or pneumonia, Die Welt reported. The mass deception by Raisi involved directives to issue fake death certificates. “The cover-up by the mullahs is not only a health risk for the Iranians, but also for other countries,” the report said. “Around 50,000 Iranians traveled to Southeast Asia, Europe or Canada in the last two weeks of March.” Some 1,000 Iranians traveled to Germany and 900 traveled to the United Kingdom during the second half of March. … In late March, Radio Farda, the Iranian branch of US government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said 4,298 people have died due to the virus. Tehran said 2,500 people have died. “The data collected by Radio Farda is also a very conservative estimate, and the real number of the victims could be much higher,” it said. “The data shows that most of the novel coronavirus victims belong to the provinces of Isfahan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran and Qom.” Iran refuses to release the number of coronavirus victims for each of the country’s 31 provinces.”
“Iran’s military did “well” by downing Ukrainian plane, MP says,” Staff, Jerusalem Post, April 6, 2020. “Iranian MP Hassan Norouzi told media in the country that the Iranian military did “well” by downing a civilian Ukrainian airliner in January during an Iranian missile attack on the Ain Al-Asad base in Iraq, according to Al Arabiya. … Norouzi told the state-run Hamdeli daily on Sunday that the military “carried out their duties well. The movement of the plane was very suspicious.” “The plane was no longer under the control of the watchtower and appeared to have come under America’s control,” Norouzi said, according to news outlet Al Arabiya. “The plane was in Israel the week before and was tampered with.” Norouzi claimed that the plane had “special targets” in Iran.”
“Iran: China leading fight against COVID-19, generously aiding other countries,” Tehran Times, April 6, 2020.
“French researcher chronicles nine months of misery in Iran jail,” AFP, April 6, 2020.
“Iran to gradually ease anti-coronavirus restrictions,” Daiji World, April 6, 2020.
“Iran taps sovereign wealth fund to fight coronavirus,” Lauren Meier, Washington Times, April 6, 2020.