Iran Nation or Cause

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.

“Media in Iran are daring to question its official coronavirus death and infection counts, showing how the outbreak is challenging even the most authoritarian states,” Bill Bostock, Business Insider US, March 11, 2020.

The threats, criminal investigation, intimidation of relatives, death threats, defamation, and the freezing of assets continue for reporters in and of Iran.  “UN experts demand Iran ceases harassing BBC Persian staff,” BBC, March 11, 2020.

Former Iranian Pres. Ahmadinejad has written to the WHO suggesting that the worldwide coronavirus outbreak was caused by unidentified laboratories who spread the epidemic as part of a biological war.  Crazy Mahmoud!  “Former Iranian President Spreads Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory, Calls On World Health Organization to Identify ‘Perpetrators’ of ‘Biological War’,” David Brennan, Newsweek, March 11, 2020.

““Iran has now recorded around 9,000 coronavirus cases in the country, nearly a thousand more cases in one day, Kianush Jahanpur, a health ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday.  The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has reached 354, a rise of 63 in the past 24 hours, Jahanpur told state TV.  Wednesday’s tally is the highest single-day toll since the start of the outbreak in February.  Jahanpur added that 2,959 patients have fully recovered, and called on Iranians to avoid unnecessary trips and stay at home.  Iran is now the worst infected country in the Middle East and the third worldwide, following China and Italy.”  “Coronavirus: Iran records jump of 1,000 new cases as 63 die in 24 hours,” Middle East Eye, March 11, 2020.

“Strategic Partnership With China Lies at Root of Iran’s Coronavirus Outbreak,” Benoit Faucon, Sune Engel Rasmussen and Jeremy Page, Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2020.

“Iran closes museums, cultural centers during new year holidays,” Xinhua, March 11, 2020.

“Iran’s trade minister recovers from coronavirus,” Ahmet Dursun, AA, March 11, 2020.

“Iran agrees to send black boxes of downed airliner to Ukraine: official,” Allison Lampert, David Ljunggren, Reuters, March 11, 2020.

“Iran Says Virus Kills 63 More, Death Toll Climbs to 354,” AP, VOA, March 11, 2020.

“U.S. and coalition troops killed in rocket attack in Iraq, potentially spiking tensions with Iran,” Dan Lamothe and Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, March 11, 2020.

“Hezbollah officials test positive for coronavirus after meeting with Iran military,” Cleveland Jewish News, March 11, 2020.

So, Iran refuses to quarantine areas and provinces.  Coronavirus will continue to spread like wildfire.  Why won’t they do what China did?  “Iran’s top security body rejects lockdown of epidemic areas,” Al-Monitor, March 11, 2020.

“Six-Year Prison Sentence For Iran Activist Who Called On Khamenei To Resign,” Radio Farda, March 11, 2020.

It is my understanding that this “discovery” is hogwash, another untruth.  “Iran’s new drug able to relieve some of coronavirus’ severe symptoms, official says,” Trend News Agency, March 11, 2020.

“The first Friday without wishing for the death of other nations,’’ went one joke, shared on social media in Iran after Friday prayers were canceled on March 6.  No “Death to America” or “Death to Saudi Arabia” or “Death to Iraq” or “Death to Israel” or “Death to England” or “Death to Canada” or (you get the idea, they’ve used many countries over the years at the Friday Prayer meeting in Tehran, Mashhad, etc.).   “Coronavirus Ravages Iran All the Way to the Top,” Arsalan Shahla, Golnar Moteralli, Marc Champion, Bloomberg, March 10, 2020.

“Iran to call dead medical staff ‘martrys’ as virus kills 291,” Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat, AP, March 10, 2020.

“No Nowruz? Iran braces for major changes to New Year celebrations,” The New Arab, March, 10, 2020.

“After Soleimani, Iran Sends Shamkhani to Iraq to Take Control,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, March 10, 2020.

“Family of Longest Held US Captive Wins $1.5 Billion Lawsuit,” Megan Mineiro, Courthouse News Service, March 9, 2020.

“Iran announces 43 new coronavirus deaths, raising toll to 237,” Times of Israel, March 9, 2020.

“Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners Amid More Deaths, Infections,” Asharq Al-Awsat, March 9, 2020.

“Iran supreme leader cancels Persian new year speech because of coronavirus outbreak: official site,” Babak Dehghanpisheh, Reuters, March 9, 2020.

“Head of Iran’s disaster management contracts COVID-19,” Mustafa Melih Ahishali, AA, March 9, 2020.

“Iran announces 43 new coronavirus deaths, raising toll to 237,” AFP, March 9, 2020.

“Iran Has Far More Coronavirus Cases Than It Is Letting On,” Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, March 9, 2020.

“IranAir stops all flights to Europe: IRNA,” Reuters, March 8, 2020.

“In Defiance, People In Northern Iran Threaten To Close Roads To Prevent Coronavirus Influx,” Radio Farda, March 8, 2020.

This article is a reminder to me that, long after 2011, IRGC Commanders (this one named Dabirian, friend of Hezbollah’s Nasrallah, killed trying to retake the historic town of Palmyra) are fighting in Syria, part of the Shia Crescent, and are in a place where the media absolutely refused to admit for many, many months that Iran even had troops.  “Iran Revolutionary Guard commander reportedly killed in Syria,” Washington Times, AP, March 8, 2020.

A government official tells IranWire that by the end of Friday, March 6, in Tehran alone 260 people had died from the coronavirus infection.  See “If We Don’t Move Quickly Up to 700,000 Iranians will Contract Coronavirus,” IranWire, March 7, 2020.

“Who Was The Man Who Took US Hostages, Established Hezbollah And Died Of Coronavirus,” Morad Vaisibiame, Radio Farda, March 7, 2020.

“Iran suspends officials’ oversea trips due to coronavirus outbreak,” Tehran Times, March 4, 2020.

An outstanding article by two Iranian doctors on why Iran’s coronavirus problem is so huge.  The article lists a number of reasons, and I think the only reason not included was the refusal to close shrines especially in Qom (where people dry and kiss and touch the metal bars at the shrines).  “How Iran Completely and Utterly Botched Its Response to the Coronavirus,” Kamiar Alaei and Arash Alaei, New York Times, March 6, 2020.

“Iran Army Called To Help With Virus Control In Qom As It Imposes Quasi-Quarantine,” Radio Farda, March 6, 2020.

Hossein Sheikholeslam has died—he was one of the student hostage takers responsible for the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, and later for years in the Iran Foreign Ministry–and notably past Ambassador to Syria.  When you are ambassador to the Assads, that is not the mark of being a boy scout.  I shouldn’t even demean scouting with such a reference, as it is a deadly and discriminatory and anti-human rights and anti-United Nations and anti-everything position.  “Iran: 124 dead from virus including FM’s adviser, could use force to stop travel,” Times of Israel, March 6,  2020.

“Senior Iranian Security Official Succumbs to Coronavirus as Rouhani Describes Countrywide Infestation,” David Israel, JewishPress.com, March 5, 2020.