Coronavirus updates: On April 23, Iran’s official death toll from the coronavirus had risen to 5,481 with infections rising to 87,026 (Reuters). This week, the Iranian government began opening bazaars, highways, shopping malls, and parks (AP). However, they extended the closures of schools and universities, while restaurants and gyms remain closed. On April 19, Iran extended furlough for prisoners for another month (Reuters). Iran has temporarily released 100,000 prisoners since February. However, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Javaid Rehman, noted, “most prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, conservationists and dual and foreign nationals” remain in prison. Iran also extended the closure of holy sites until May 4 (Al-Monitor). A further extension may be decided based on later assessments. On April 22, President Hassan Rouhani dismissed allegations of mismanagement and cover-up in his administration’s response to the coronavirus outbreak (Al-Monitor). Rouhani said the critics were a small group and a “mouthpiece of foreigners” that are repeating the enemy’s stance, to politically benefit from the outbreak.
Iranian women have answered authorities’ calls to volunteer by upholding the Islamic custom of purifying the dead before burial (Los Angeles Times).
Like much of the Middle East, Iranians heavily rely on delivery for many of their daily supplies (AP).
Help not needed: On April 26, President Donald Trump said that if Iran needed aid, the US would be willing to provide it (Reuters). On April 20, the Iranian president’s spokesman said that if Tehran wanted help from the US, they would ask for it (Al-Monitor). Ali Rabiei added that Trump’s comment is a personal opinion and it doesn’t matter who occupies the White House. Rabiei explained that even if a Democrat took office that Tehran will not have talks “if they do not stop the bullying, sanctions and assassinations… Our recommendation to America is rather than finding the same culprits—correct your path.”
Army Day with health focus: On March 17, Iran marked its annual Army Day with disinfectant trucks, mobile hospitals and other medical equipment (Reuters). As Reuters notes, “It was a far cry from the typical Army Day parades, which normally feature spectacles of infantry, missiles, submarines and armored vehicles, with warplanes flying overhead.” President Rouhani said, “Due to health and social protocols, it is not possible to hold a parade of soldiers...The enemy now is hidden and doctors and nurses are [instead] at the frontlines of the battlefield.” On April 18, the Iranian armed forces revealed three bomb-carrying drones with a range of 1,500 km (Haaretz). According to Defense Minister Amir Hatami, the drones could monitor “enemy movements from a considerable distance,” were capable of combat missions, and could fly at an altitude of up to 45,000 feet.
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