The Iranian regime does not tell the truth on victims of coronavirus

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last Tuesday that 50% of government workers would now stay home to slow the coronavirus’ spread; just days after he downplayed any need for social distancing or reduced economic activity, and claimed that these changes would only be needed for 2-3 weeks.

However, the Health Ministry warned that cases could soon spike and that 3 million Iranians could die.

These are just part of the regime’s inconsistent response to a crisis that has now claimed 12,400 lives, according to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK Iran), who are getting their information from hospitals and independent sources across Iran. The regime tries to dismiss this as rumors and has threatened to imprison people telling the truth about the virus for three years.

Latest figures of coronavirus’ victims in Iran

It is clear now that Iran is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, lacking the healthcare infrastructure and the political will to stop this from getting worse.

Indeed, the regime has already rejected aid from the US and expelled Doctors Without Borders, even though 170 frontline hospital staff are infected with the coronavirus and dozens have died. They want the US to lift sanctions on Iran, which already have exemptions for humanitarian aid, but the problem is lifting those will not help the people, but only enrich the mullahs.

This is to be expected from a regime that deliberately hid the fact that the virus was in their country to increase turnout at the anniversary celebrations and the election, as well as continue flights to and from China. The regime’s weird conspiracy theory about the US producing this virus is a way for the mullahs to deflect anger, but it will not work.

Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said:

“Khamenei’s shallow and demagogic rambling reflect, in addition to his cruelty about the (Coronavirus) patients, his despair and passivity emanating from the mortal deadlock engulfing the regime and concern over popular uprisings. While this disaster has swept across Iran and the number of victims continues to grow, Khamenei did not offer any solutions, nor not even a promise to help the people.”

She further said:

“Expelling Doctors Without Borders, who had come to Isfahan with prior agreement and coordination demonstrates that the mullahs intend to continue their criminal cover-up, especially about the number of fatalities. This shows that the main problem in Iran is the corrupt dictatorship that does not think about anything but how to preserve its grip on power and that human lives are worthless. The regime wants to receive aid without any supervision so that it can put it at the disposal of the IRGC and regime officials.”