Continuation of Islamic Republic’s Contradictory Coronavirus Policy; Doctors Without Borders Team Expelled from Iran

Following objections from several figures close to and supportive of the Islamic Republic’s leader, a Health Ministry official announced that the presence of the Doctors Without Borders team to combat coronavirus in Iran has become void.

AliReza Vahabzadeh, an advisor to the Health Minister, announced on Monday, April 24, in a Twitter message that “with the implementation of the national mobilization plan to combat coronavirus and also the use of all medical capacity of the armed forces,” there is no need to use the capacity of foreign forces, and the presence of Doctors Without Borders in Iran is void.

This is while the Doctors Without Borders team entered Iran from France in recent days and on Sunday also announced that it is in the process of establishing a 50-bed emergency center in Iran to care for severe cases of the new coronavirus.

Doctors Without Borders also added that a 9-member medical intensive care team from this charity organization would operate in this center located within the grounds of Amin Hospital in Isfahan Province.

The announcement of no need for assistance from Doctors Without Borders comes at a time when Islamic Republic officials had requested international assistance in recent days to combat the spread of coronavirus, and in response to this request, several countries and international organizations sent several shipments of medical and health aid to Iran.

It appears that the announcement of no need for assistance from Doctors Without Borders is a reaction to criticism from conservatives, including Hossein Shariatmadari, Editor-in-Chief of Kayhan newspaper, who had criticized the presence of this group by referring to France’s close relationship with America.

“Doctors Without Borders” is a non-governmental non-profit organization with its office in France.

Source: Voice of America