The Islamic Republic of Iran has suffered a devastating number of fatalities from the new coronavirus, exceeded only by those in Italy, Spain, and China. While China took draconian measures to contain the outbreak, and Italy and Spain have been transparent about the death toll in order to warn others about the dangers of complacency, Iran has done neither. Yet Iranian universities and health officials warn that the country could ultimately see millions of fatalities absent urgent, dramatic action.
The story of how the virus spread to, within, and from Iran is now well documented. When other countries began to suspend travel with China in early February, Iran did not pay heed, given its economic isolation and dependence on China. When cases of the coronavirus began to mushroom in Iran in mid-February, Iranian officials admittedly suppressed the news in order to maintain voter turnout in the country’s rigged parliamentary elections. When the holy city of Qom—a popular destination for Shia pilgrims throughout Iran and the Middle East—was identified as an epicenter of Iran’s coronavirus outbreak, Iranian authorities refused to quarantine the city’s mosques and shrines until a month later. But COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, had spread throughout Iran within days. An estimated 90 percent of the approximately 17,000 cases throughout the Middle East are now linked to the country.
Iran’s leaders initially downplayed the dangers. “COVID-19 is not such a big tragedy and this country has overcome graver ones,” tweeted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 3. He continued, “The prayers of the pure youth and pious are very effective in repelling major tragedies.” Once the country’s death toll began to mount—including thirteen senior Iranian officials, among at least thirty who contracted the virus—Khamenei shifted from denial to deflection. He claimed there was evidence that COVID-19 may be a biological attack, ostensibly by the United States, which provided him the pretext to appoint a Revolutionary Guard commander, rather than a physician, to lead a newly formed “Health Command Center.” Indeed, despite hopes in Washington that COVID-19 may hasten the Islamic Republic’s collapse, the virus is more likely to accelerate its transition from clerical rule to military rule.
Iranian mismanagement has been exacerbated by U.S. sanctions that in theory don’t prohibit, but in practice financially inhibit, Tehran’s ability to purchase medical equipment and supplies. While Khamenei has long lauded sanctions for forcing Iran to become “self-reliant” and recently rejected the idea of U.S. financial assistance, overloaded Iranian healthcare providers have publicly pleaded for basic supplies—including gowns, gloves, masks, alcohol wipes, and hand sanitizers—to help treat the inflicted. The combination of onerous sanctions, plunging oil prices, and COVID-19 forced Iran to ask the International Monetary Fund for an emergency loan of $5 billion—its first such request since 1962. Yet, the very same week, Tehran likely sabotaged its chances of the United States and Europe acceding to such a loan when rocket attacks, allegedly launched by Iranian-backed militants, killed two U.S. soldiers and one British soldier in Iraq.
While the coronavirus outbreak could have provided Tehran and Washington an opportunity to cooperate against a common foe, the enmity and mistrust between them has proven too wide for even a deadly pandemic to bridge. Yet Washington should take no comfort in seeing Iran’s population—a majority of whom would welcome better relations with Washington—ravaged by a virus that respects no national boundaries. At a minimum, President Donald Trump’s administration should publicly announce that foreign companies and countries will face no penalties for providing Iran necessary aid, including medical equipment and supplies, to contain COVID-19. As the United States has proven, however, all the resources in the world cannot substitute for the honest, effective leadership that Tehran sorely lacks.
Comments(6)
Though I have respect for this young gentleman, a half-compatriot of mine, but this piece of writing from him is absolute and pure B.S. Corporate Militaristic America (a.k.a Trump and his henchmen) will never have mercy over Iran or Iranians! Because this is what makes America's nature.
When I was head of construction at an Israeli kibbutz in the 1970s, I had the distinct honor to host a group of Iranian agricultural engineers and agronomists on a tour of our facilities. During the course of our conversations, it became clear to me that the two most advanced nations in the Middle East were Iran and Israel. How fondly I reflect over those two days of international friendship and cooperation. After all, the Persian people and the Jewish people have been friends for the last 2500 hundred years. In fact if it wasn't for the ascent and friendship of Persia, the Jews would have perished long ago in Babylon; the second Temple in Jerusalem would never have been built; and it is extremely doubtful that any form of monotheism could have existed to this day. Over the course of the last forty years, I have often wondered how those Iranian colleagues have withstood the onerous malaise of theocratic totalitarianism. Now in the midst of this horrid global pandemic, I find myself thinking fondly of those official Iranians that I met in Israel before the hatred of the so-called Islamic Revolution. I know with absolute certainty that the men who toured our kibbutz could never have raged-on with the genocidal chant --"Death to Israel"! I also know with equal certainty that without a campaign of continued maximum pressure and strong military deterrence, a fair and balanced alternative to the highly flawed JCPOA will never be achieved. However maximum pressure should not include the absence of humanitarian aid for the Iranian people in this time of dire need. Hopefully someday Israel and Iran will return to the promising policies which occurred in decades past. With this medical crisis, I find myself sympathizing with the people of Iran and I hope that someday I will be able to continue my conversations on the future of Middle East agriculture and water infrastructure with Iranian friends and colleagues. With God's help -- all things are possible.
This is absurd when NA didn't ban any travel from and to China until mid-May, and these are area that have more Chinese outside of China...the main reason of spread in Iran (way more than the government mismanagement) is solely the people and their lack of self isolation and propper hygiene practice. Please do more research...
"Italy and Spain have been transparent about the death toll in order to warn others about the dangers of complacency, Iran has done neither." Nonsene. Iran has been transparent about the death toll and has been cooperating with the WHO. Italy's death toll is nearly four times that of Iran's, meaning that Iranian authorities cannot be blamed for any specific mismanagement.
When it rains, it pours. Iran faces one of the worst days in recent years. Coronavirus has badly distorted an already fragile economy. Social disbelief and suspicious of whatever the government says and does...Nevertheless its important to note that corona was virtually met with similar responses by all other countries. Nobody had a clear definition of what it was all about. From late last year when it started in China to the time it began to move to other countries, there was a3-4 weeks time to prepare, but in fact no country began to prepare before it arrived, not even in Taiwan. Europe was caught by total surprise too and now the United States. Then, sanctions and all limitations related to sanction and restrictions. US continuous provocations and fear of an imminent military conflict. Having listed quite a few of problems, there comes Coronavirus.
THE HATE U GIVE- In another era, the US would have been upfront with other countries helping to fight the Coronavirus. Instead, Trump is strangulating the Iranian population even more; the hate one gives always bounces back. The Khamenei long-lasting reign is a record of collective hatred that has deprived of prosperity more than four generations of Iranians; the so-called revolution is more pervasive than the virus itself. For some people, hate is good business; Trump and Khamenei are only a byproduct of it.
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