{"id":214641,"date":"2020-03-23T14:20:51","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T14:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=214641"},"modified":"2023-01-23T06:31:59","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T05:31:59","slug":"coronavirus-outbreak-in-iran-as-death-toll-gets-close-to-10000-khamenei-foolishly-blames-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/coronavirus-outbreak-in-iran-as-death-toll-gets-close-to-10000-khamenei-foolishly-blames-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus Outbreak in Iran: As Death Toll Gets Close to 10,000, Khamenei Foolishly Blames U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Iran,
Iran, Qom – Burial of a coronavirus victim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The coronavirus outbreak has so far claimed<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0lives of 9,600 people<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0according to reports published by the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK)<\/a>, yet the Iranian regime\u2019s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, instead of acting, blames the United States for this crisis.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this regard, on March 22, Khamenei, blatantly said: \u201cFirstly, you (The U.S.) are facing shortages of your own \u2026 If you have anything, use it yourself. Secondly, you have allegedly produced the virus. One must be insane to trust that you will bring medicine. Your drugs may even spread the disease further or\u00a0<\/span>make\u00a0<\/span>the virus<\/span>\u00a0permanent<\/span>. Or, if you send a\u00a0<\/span>doctor or\u00a0<\/span>physician, you may want to closely test the toxic effects of the virus you have created. Because it\u2019s said that given the knowledge about Iranian genes, part of the virus has been\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>specially created for Iran.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These remarks show Khamenei\u2019s desperation and yet expose the regime\u2019s inhumane nature.\u00a0<\/span>They\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>make\u00a0<\/span>clear that the regime has no intention to help the coronavirus victims.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E<\/span>arlier this month, the regime\u2019s president, Hassan Rouhani, who had previously suggested that the crisis will be over by March 7, 2020, ridiculously claimed<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0\u201cWe have now passed the peak in Qom and\u00a0Gilan, our two most difficult\u00a0<\/span>spots<\/span>\u2026 In\u00a0<\/span>Gilan, 20% of hospital beds are empty.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this regard, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi<\/a>, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)<\/a>, said: \u201cKhamenei\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The policy of appeasement, which helped the regime to prolong its repressive rule, has failed. Let it be clear, the Iranian people and their organized resistance will overthrow the regime #Covid_19<\/a> #FreeIran2020<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/ObCjgs6n1C<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XMNcHWzuKX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) March 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Iranian regime, particularly Khamenei, spread<\/span>\u00a0the coronavirus across Iran by\u00a0<\/span>its\u00a0<\/span>criminal cover-up and inaction. The regime denied the existence of the virus to have a much larger turnout\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>its sham parliamentary elections. In this regard,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>regime\u2019s Interior Minister, Abdolreza Rahmani\u00a0<\/span>Fazli<\/span>, said: \u201cSome had recommended delaying the elections, and insisted on delaying elections in Qom. But, as the official in charge of the elections, I refused to approve these recommendations.\u201d His confessions confirm<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0that the regime was fully aware of the existence of\u00a0<\/span>this virus<\/span>\u00a0but chose\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>cover<\/span>\u00a0it\u00a0<\/span>up. In a related matter, the regime never stopped its flights to China, the epicenter of the virus.\u00a0<\/span>Mahan<\/span>\u00a0A<\/span>ir<\/span>, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0has been flying to China, while other countries have canceled their flights to China.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. State Department also reacted to Khamenei\u2019s remarks. In a press release on March 23 they said<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Supreme<\/span> Leader Khamenei\u2019s fabrications regarding the Wuhan Virus are dangerous, and they put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While referring to some facts, demonstrating how the regime helped to spread the virus across Iran<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the State Department said: \u201cIn February, Iran\u2019s chief terror airline, Mahan Air, ran at least 55 flights between Tehran and China, further infecting the Iranian people. At least five foreign countries\u2019 first cases of coronavirus were directly imported from Iran, putting millions more lives at risk. The Iranian regime ignored repeated warnings from its own health officials and denied its first death from the coronavirus for at least nine days. The regime continues to lie to the Iranian people and the world about the number of cases and deaths, which are unfortunately far higher than the regime admits.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Referring to how the regime declined any foreign aid to help the victims the U.S. State Department further added: \u201cAs Iranian regime officials ask for more funds, it is important to note that since 2012, Iran has spent over $16 billion on terror abroad, and used sanctions relief from the JCPOA to fill up its proxies\u2019 coffers. Regime officials stole over a billion Euros intended for medical supplies, and continue to hoard desperately needed masks, gloves, and other medical equipment for sale on the black market.\u00a0 U.S. sanctions do not target imports of food, medicine and medical equipment, or other humanitarian goods. Iranian documents show their health companies have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January. U.S. sanctions do not target imports of food, medicine and medical equipment, or other humanitarian goods. Iranian documents show their health companies have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This all\u00a0<\/span>proves the regime is the real virus and problem and as far as it continues its rule the coronavirus outbreak won\u2019t be controlled in Iran.\u00a0 As Mrs. Rajavi Said: \u201cKhamenei\u2019s drivel about the production of the virus by the U.S is a desperate attempt to cover up the regime\u2019s incompetence in confronting the disease and the mullahs\u2019 criminal role in the explosive spread of the virus nationwide and to divert the people\u2019s anger, and disgust towards the U.S. But these justifications no longer work and only exacerbate the people\u2019s rage.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he regime is indeed worried about another popular uprising. In this regard, the\u00a0<\/span>Asra think-tank<\/a>,\u00a0close to Khamenei<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0wrote in a\u00a0<\/span>report:<\/span>\u00a0\u201cWith the spread of the coronavirus to the whole country, the shortage of health and hospital equipment was quite evident, and widespread hoarding was taking place in these areas. This led to market turmoil and increased prices for these commodities. Rising prices and a shortage of goods in the coming months, and with the spread of the virus, could lead to the looting of stores and pharmacies.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Is #Iran<\/a> on the Verge of a Nationwide Rebellion?
An analysis by a think-tank of Khamenei\u2019s faction
This report clearly demonstrates the regime\u2019s increasing fear of a popular uprising due to its cover-up and failure in managing the #coronavirus<\/a> outbreak.https:\/\/t.co\/CmKGtW5MSC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/F5KyW7R3s7<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n