US sanctions effect rise in coronavirus infections in Iran
Ghanbar Naderi
Press TV, Tehran
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s offer of helping Iran to fight the new coronavirus is hypocritical and is only there to score political points at home, while distracting the world public opinion. That’s according to Iran's Health Ministry's spokesman.
Kianoush Jahanpour told reporters that the quarantine in China seems to be buying the world time, but US sanctions and restrictions on Iran are spending it away.
According to the Iranian official, the number of suspected cases is much higher than what labs have reported. Still, he said US sanctions haven’t stopped Iran from cooperating with other nations to supply pharmaceutical and health needs to contain the outbreak of the disease.
More than 85,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in 57 countries around the world with almost 3,000 deaths. According to the World Health Organization, the vast majority of infections and deaths are in China, where the virus emerged late last year. The organization says Iran’s outbreak may be worse than realized with its death toll, the highest outside China.
The World Health Organization has increased its coronavirus risk assessment to very high as cases outside of China continue to increase. This is while schools and universities in Iran have been closed, mass public gatherings have been suspended and some employees are forced to work from home.
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