Official Death Toll from Coronavirus in Iran Approaches 2,000; International Doctors Expelled Following Khamenei’s Remarks

As the death toll from the new coronavirus in Iran has approached 2,000 people, the Iranian regime, after rejecting American aid, expelled “Doctors Without Borders” two days after Khamenei’s recommendation.

The leader of the Islamic Republic, who in recent days raised the claim of a biological attack on Iran through the spread of the coronavirus and had said: “It is possible that you would prescribe a drug or bring it into the country that would make this virus permanent and prevent it from ending…or if you wanted to send someone as a healer and doctor, it is possible that he would want to come here and closely witness the toxic effect of what they have produced” – made these remarks at a time when America had offered assistance to resolve the coronavirus crisis in Iran, but the Islamic Republic rejected this offer.

Following Khamenei’s remarks, Ali Vahabzadeh, an advisor to Iran’s Health Minister, announced in a tweet that the presence of Doctors Without Borders in Iran was “unnecessary” and wrote that “with the implementation of the national mobilization plan to combat coronavirus and also using all the medical capacity of the armed forces, there is currently no need to establish hospital beds by foreign forces, and this presence is unnecessary.”

Earlier, Doctors Without Borders announced on Sunday, the 3rd of Farvardin, that it was in the process of establishing a 50-bed emergency center in Iran to care for severe cases of the new coronavirus infection.

Doctors Without Borders is one of the most important international organizations that assists different countries in global crises.

However, the presence of Doctors Without Borders was met with objections from some hardliners and figures close to Khamenei, including Hossein Shariatmadari, the Supreme Leader’s representative at Kayhan newspaper. In an interview, Shariatmadari said that “the dispatch of Doctors Without Borders to our country should be viewed pessimistically, but if pessimism stems from caution, it is not only not inappropriate, but it is a requirement of reason.”

However, in response to these criticisms, Mahmoud Sadeghi, Tehran’s representative in parliament, tweeted in reaction to the expulsion of Doctors Without Borders from Iran that “hardliners’ sensitivity to the presence of Doctors Without Borders, contrary to their claims, is not due to concern about a biological warfare conspiracy; their concern is that international cooperation would not create a crack in the wall of sanctions.”

The widespread outbreak of coronavirus in Iran has now turned into a crisis that on one hand has raised concerns about concealment in announcing actual figures, and on the other hand, mismanagement of conditions has made things difficult for people. Also, the insufficiency of medical equipment and even standard infrastructure has caused the treatment process in Iran to face problems. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, had previously said that he had formally offered assistance to Iran and hopes that Iran would accept it.

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, on Monday, the 4th of Farvardin, in a statement titled “Khamenei’s Lies About the Wuhan Virus Endangers Lives” made statements about the lies and cover-ups of the Iranian regime regarding the coronavirus.

In Mr. Pompeo’s statement, it was stated: “Khamenei’s lies, the leader [of the Islamic Republic], about the Wuhan virus are dangerous and put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk. Facts matter.”

The United States has repeatedly condemned mismanagement, endemic financial corruption, and the plundering of Iran’s assets by affiliates of the ruling regime in this country, and has considered them among the main factors of Iran’s problems and the dire welfare situation of its people. Among other things, recently Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, in several tweets about Islamic Republic officials said that instead of helping people, they have become engaged in corruption.

Source: Voice of America