By Aram Mirzaei for the Saker blog
The Islamic Republic has entered its second month of battling the global pandemic caused by the Covid-19 disease. For long, Iran stood out as the hardest hit nation outside of China as the virus swiftly spread across the country, infecting several MPs and government officials as well. From the onset of the outbreak, some among the Western media were quick to criticize Iran’s handling of the outbreak, seizing a perfect opportunity to attack the Islamic Republic. Exiled opposition groups and individuals quickly took to Twitter, sharing disaster stories and videos of collapsed men and women on the streets all over Iran. Iran was immediately accused of hiding the true number of infected people and casualties, despite reassurances from the WHO that there was no evidence of a cover up in Tehran.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/03/02/619989/WHO-Iran-coronavirus-
It could very well be true that the number of infected people in Iran are a lot higher than the official data from the Health Ministry, but unrecorded cases, so called hidden statistics exist almost everywhere. Those who aren’t considered at risk are told to remain at home and self quarantine – there’s no cover up or conspiracy in doing this. ¨
If there was a conspiracy, it would be the so called opposition activists only conspiring to mass produce fake news on Iran’s Corona fight and undermine the government’s efforts. Some of these “activists” openly call for people in Iran to make efforts to worsen the spread in a bid to bring the “regime” down. Others hoard and hide medical supplies and sanitizing products in order to undermine the country’s ability to handle the outbreak. Recently a warehouse in northwestern Iran was discovered to have hoarded 28 million masks and gloves!
Part of the reason for the quick and massive spread of the virus also lies with the government’s inability to confront the threat properly. The holy shrines remained open for a long time after the first confirmed cases in Qom, while the parliament elections were also held despite the imminent threat of an epidemic. Also, the government failed to enforce quarantines in cities such as Tehran and Qom, allowing the disease to spread across all of Iran.
The high amount of government officials and MPs infected are due to the fact that the source of the outbreak in Iran could be traced back to Qom, an important religious and political centre of Iran. A number of the infected officials have since succumbed to the disease and died during the recent weeks.
Amid this fight, it has become clear for the entire world how cruel Washington’s sanctions against Iran truly are. Not only have they refused to ease the sanctions, but they also imposed further sanctions in the recent days.
Presstv:
The United States has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran as part of its so-called “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that Washington had blacklisted three Iranian entities for engaging in what he called “significant transactions” to trade in Iranian petrochemicals.
While he did not name any firms or individuals, Pompeo said the measure included blacklisting Iran’s armed forces social security investment company and its director for investing in the sanctioned entities.
In a separate statement, the US Commerce Department also said it would boycott a number of entities, including five Iranian nuclear scientists, for aiding Tehran’s nuclear program.
The Iranian health sector has been hit hard by the sanctions.
Tehran’s ambassador to Madrid says Iran is the only country in the world that cannot buy medicine and medical equipment from the global market because of America’s “cruel and inhumane” sanctions, which are hindering the country’s fight against a coronavirus outbreak.
Hassan Qashqavi made the remarks in an interview with Spain’s La Razon newspaper on Wednesday.
He further said that any banking transaction requires permission from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which blocks foreign firms from engaging in transactions and trade with countries on the US’s sanctions list.
Another interesting report:
The British government is pressing the United States to ease its sanctions against Iran amid a coronavirus outbreak in the country which has infected thousands of people, says a report.
The Guardian newspaper claimed in a report published on its website on Wednesday that UK authorities were privately negotiating with Washington for a respite to Iran sanctions.
The report did not elaborate on any further details, neither was there any mention of sources corroborating the claims.
Update Sunday March 22
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has described the US “the most evil enemy of the Iranian nation”, saying the offer by the United States to help Iran fight the coronavirus outbreak is strange.
“Today, we have no less of enemies but the most evil enemy of the Iranian nation is America,” the Leader said in a televised address on Sunday.
US officials have refused to lift draconian sanctions which are hampering Iran’s efforts to contain the coronavirus. They have instead claimed readiness to aid Iranians, with President Donald Trump saying “all they have to do is ask”.
Iranian authorities have dismissed the offer as hypocritical, saying it makes no sense when Washington keeps on imposing new sanctions which have made Iran’s access to food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies impossible.
Ayatollah Khamenei called US officials deceitful, saying they were lying as he touched on speculations that the United States has manufactured the extremely contagious disease.
“Americans have said several times that ‘we are ready to help with treatment and medicine; just ask us and we will help’. This is one of the weirdest things which they tell us to ask them,” the Leader said.
“Firstly, you have a shortage yourself and this is what American officials say. Secondly, you are accused of producing the virus. I do not know how true this accusation is, but when such an accusation is made, which wise person will ask for your help?” he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei said, “American officials are mendacious, deceitful, shameless and greedy. They are all kinds of charlatans who speak like charlatans. They are cruel, merciless, and terrorist.”
According to the Leader, “part of this virus is said to have been made for Iran by using genetic backgrounds which they have collected from Iranians, which of course is part of their hostility”.
Officials in Tehran have ordered all commercial centers closed except for major chain stores supplying foodstuff and other basic requirements as well as pharmacies as part of new restrictive measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak.
Deputy Governor of Tehran Province Hamidreza Goudarzi said on Sunday new social distancing directives about what activities were and were not allowed in the capital had been issued for the megapolis of some 12 million.
Only hypermarkets and drug stores are allowed to stay open and other businesses breaching the order will be penalized, he added. The new restrictions come as Iran is stepping up its campaign to curtail a further spread of the disease.
Head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz said pharmacies across the country are replenished with protective masks, hand sanitizers and other hygiene products and there is no shortage in this regard.
Alcohol production by Iranian companies has doubled in recent weeks. “We are currently producing 400,000 litres of alcohol on a daily basis,” Shanehsaz said.
Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday that 1,028 new coronavirus cases had been diagnosed within the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 21,638.
“With 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, the death toll from the virus has reached 1,685,” he said.
Jahanpour further put the number of patients who have recovered from the viral disease at 7,913.
Meanwhile Iran’s Health Minister Saeed Namaki said as of Sunday morning 32.7 million Iranians had been screened for the new coronavirus.
The minister said up to 60 percent of the population had confined themselves to their homes and urged the rest of the people to abide by the stay-home directives to help prevent a second wave of infections as a result of cross-country trips during the two-week Nowruz holidays.
With regards to the so-called “US sanctions” against Iran, what must be borne in mind at all times is the fact that, were it not for Israel demanding them, these sanctions might not be in place.
The US’s stance and attitude towards Iran is dictated by Israel and its supporters like Sheldon Adelson. Stooges like Trump who are beholden to Israel and its lobby have little choice but to go along.
Although its obvious to everyone that these cruel sanctions are counter-productive and help to undermine US moral standing in the world – whats left of it – but the blood-soaked war criminals in Tel -a -Viv demand that they be applied, so US politicians who are weak, corrupt and thoroughly compromised, merely fall in line and do as they are told.
Its like the decades old stupid sanctions on Cuba that are maintained solely to please the powerful Cuban exiles in Miami.
Every one knows that the sanctions should be lifted, but no one has the moral courage to stand up for do what is right. Similarly, everyone is aware that the US relations with Israel is a toxic burden, but none dare say so.
For Iran, this too shall pass.
Selah
Sure, petrodollar and US greed over oil is for nothing. And US full spectrum dominance policy are just BS.
The control over all Eurasia is not geopolicy but only Israel scheming…
Dumb.
Sure, petrodollar and US greed over oil is for nothing. And US full spectrum dominance policy are just BS.
None of that is absolutely vital to the U.S. We know this because Obama signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) with Iran.
However, the domination of the Middle East is clearly vital to the Jews of Israel. Therefore, when someone bought by Jews like Sheldon Adelson became U.S. President, he instantly reneged on the JCPOA.
Well Cyril,
That is Western politics an schism.
Nobody care about your subtleties outside the western hemisphere.
Catholicism has been crushed long ago in the west.
And protestentism is from the same old testament vein as hebraic religion.
Note that the west is dominated by the Anglo.
And the Anglo merged with the jewish oligarchy.
They fought internally among the west and emerged as the winner & owner of capitalism and creator of western bloom for 3 centuries. Through UK empire and US empire.
Whether you like it or not makes small difference.
S400
Sorry brother, but I disagree. Theirs more to the world than just the scheming of Zionists. Yes they play a crucial role. The top is ultra rich men. Greedy men don’t necessarily have their allegiance anywhere but to their greed ultimately. Yes they need their foot soldiers to believe whatever it is they need them to believe, but this is purely for their interest. Be it capitalism, Zionism, or wahhabism, or something else.
An example would be the Wahhabi kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Do you really think the kings and princes are reading about and studying the foundations of wahhabism? Or do they need it’s propagation because it suits their interest, mainly by keeping them in power? Of course this is purely based on interest. If tomorrow they need to be anti Wahhabi, and pro something else to keep power, they would do it in a heartbeat. This is why evil men are always said to be those who follow their desires, as they don’t really stand for any principles but pure self interest.
Zionism is just one manifestation of this. That’s why it’s also important to denounce these movements at their fundamental principal. That way you denounce it across the board, and not just one particular manifestation. For example greed, or arrogance, if you denounce it from its foundations , you denounce all who practice it. If you only denounce Zionism, you are leaving all other movements that also practice these things. Look at all the hardcore nationalists, they denounce Zionism, but in principal their a similar movement to zionism. So ultimately they don’t have a problem with Zionism, they just want the power they perceive Zionism to have. So basically they perpetuate the environment that Zionism thrives on.
As an addition, I would like to say that if you study and understand capitalism, in its foundations you will understand why the US acts the way it acts towards Iran. Sure does this also benefit other movements like Zionism or wahhabisim, sure it does that’s undeniable. Focusing on one aspect will give a false understanding.
@ S-400
Putting blame on jews is neither relevant or usefull.
As it does not tackle the heart of the issue.
The point is that it is a clash of civilization.
And that the Anglozionist civilisation is one.
The jewish civilization merged with the protestant christian civilization. And modern capitalist system is rooted in jewish and protestant religion.
Books have been written about that.
And it is fact recognized by jewish and protestant intelectuals.
Therefore dissociating the Anglo Protestant is not correct.
Just as socialism and communism is rooted in jewish messianism of a better worldly order in contrast to Islam and Catholic messianism which deliver hope into the Heaven.
The modern capitalist system have proven superior.
And other civilization needs to catch up. Which is what is taking place with China, Russia and Iran.
Just as communism dominated the eastern world dor decades.
As a conclusion. The point is.
Make your own civilization worthy.
Prove yourself.
So called jews are not to blame for your own failure of a civilization and backwardness.
You put blame on the jewish civilization whereas it provided much to human history.
You should rather try provide as much in intellectual, civilizational and modern historical sphere of influence.
That would be a good place to start your quest.
While I agree with your analysis on Anglo-Zionism and that there is currently a clash of civilizations going on, I do have to mention that in order for the so called superior civilization to remain superior, it needs to keep others from potentially rising above it. This is what the Anglo-Zionist civilization does every day through imperialist actions all across the world. The Anglo-Zionist hegemony remains strong at the expense of others, through a Lordship-Vassalage relationship.
Few countries will ever “prove themselves” against the Anglo-Zionist civilization since they lack the resources, manpower and education for such endeavors. While Iran, China and Russia challenge the Anglo-Zionist hegemony in many ways, they are still a long way off when it comes to presenting a strong alternative civilization to the Western/Anglo-Zionist one.
The Anglo-Zionist hegemony will never relinquish its throne willingly and will most likely not hesitate to start major wars if needed to.
@ Aram Mirzaei
I agree with your comments.
That being said would demand a dog to act like a bird and fall from a cliff trying to fly ?
The reality needs to be accepted as a whole.
The Anglozionist are the purest chemical compound of capitalist, materialist and imperialist system of dominance.
At the same time such system have proved superior economically speaking and intellectually speaking for 3 centuries.
I have to say that Russian traditionnalism and Iran Velayat are worthy attempt at civilizational level. For China I do not know enough.
Surely they are all on the right track as only a whole civilizational proposal can fight the fight at consistent and adequat level of revelancy.
I guess it is the entire question mark of multi lateralism.
Multi civilizational order or anglo zionist order.
As the saying goes.
Power anf respect is never offered.
Power and respect must be grabbed.
American sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and other nations during this pandemic are possibly genocidal and “an evil for which there are no words.”
America is the true Evil Empire. It has been all along.
Expert: US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during pandemic could be genocidal
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/03/20/expert-us-sanctions-on-iran-venezuela-during-pandemic-could-be-genocidal/#more-22385
US response to Iran’s coronavirus disaster described as ‘an evil for which there are no words’
https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2020/03/20/us-response-to-irans-coronavirus-disaster-described-as-an-evil-for-which-there-are-no-words/
Why U.S. citizens, especially the Trumpsters do not call out the orange messiah for this evil is nauseating. This is why, when I accuse the U.S., America, I’m not just talking about the criminal psychopaths in D.C. By showing Trump that they demand he stop maybe he will listen. Maybe. It’s all people have to combat this, is their voices.
Many have probably swallowed the lying propaganda hook, line and sinker: Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism (as if the U.S. doesn’t fund, arm, train and move terrorists about), Maduro is a cruel, socialist dictator enslaving his people, China has cheated and stolen their way to success on the backs of American tech. Theirs is a cruel, totalitarian state (unlike the land of the free and home of the brave) where the Chinese virus, the Wuhan virus, the communist Chinese, Chicom, red Chinese virus came from.
This beast is not at all averse to being cruel to their own slaves, er….I mean citizens. Not only has the U.S. progressively been turning into a police state but here is quite an admission from the St. Louis Fed president Bullard about the current situation. Planned and partial, and we are trying not to lose control?
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/unemployment-could-reach-30-in-the-us-says-st-louis-feds-bullard-2020-03-22?fbclid=IwAR0NSR53F1XJI6TYBW3ZdwJ8o5tEqxeGOWT6GNIBQ26Nc5Vn0gthhdcABOw
Yes, All these attacks on Iran have to stop and a constructive dialogue started.
There is a high degree of moral bankruptcy of many US officials and has been since the 1970s.
Its appalling.
Please don t stop mourning for the Brazilian people,
Toll the bells from your church towers.
One of best Brazilian public men has just declared, and put the bullet on cross hairs, with keen precision:
“it is too hard for us to have simultaneously to deal with a virus and a WORM.”
Repeat ‘deal with a virus and a worm’
The world knows whom he was talking about.