Iran: Coronavirus death toll reaches 1,200

Khamenei shamelessly claims Corona outbreak not a big deal, claims his regime has been transparent in informing the public since day one!

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI /MEK) announced on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, that as of 8:00 pm local time, the death toll nationwide from Coronavirus had exceeded 1,200 lives. Reports indicate 300 victims in Qom, 215 in Tehran, 70 in Rasht, 12 in Lahijan, 6 in Astaneh, 60 in Mashhad, 43 in Isfahan, 23 in Kashan, 10 in Dastgerd, 54 in Gorgan, 45 in Arak, 45 in Kermanshah, 38 in Shiraz, 39 in Karaj, 23 in Khorramabad, 20 in Qazvin, 10 in Zahedan, 16 in Iranshahr, 12 in Boushehr, and more than 100 in Mazandaran province have lost their lives.

Several others have died in other cities including Ardabil, Zanjan, Khorramdareh, Saqqez, Baneh, Azadshahr, Gonbad, Chaypareh, Urmia, Ilam, Samaleh, Salehshahr, Mahshahr, Ahvaz, Andimeshk, Sarbandar, Tabriz, Bonab, Saveh, Zarand, Qods, Najafabad, Homayounshahr, Kiashahr, Amlash, Siahkal, Yasuj, Malayer, Hamedan, Neyshabur, Kashmar, Eslamabad-e-Gharb, Nowshahr, Sorkheh Hesar, Semnan, Shahroud, Yazd, Buin Zahra, Takestan, and Bandar Abbas. Several activists and members of Resistance Units affiliated with the People’s Mujahideen (PMOI/MEK), who rushed to aid infected compatriots, are among the victims.

The rapid virus outbreak in Iran and its transmission to other countries around the world is the result of weeks-long cover-ups, lies, and misleading information to the public. But Khamenei brazenly said, “this is not such a big catastrophe, and we have had bigger ones.” This is a ” passing issue” and nothing “exceptional”. He continued, “Our officials have been informing the public since the first day with confidence, honesty, and transparency and have kept the public informed, but some other countries where the virus outbreak is more severe and epidemic are hiding the problem.” Yesterday, Ali Rabiei, one of IRGC henchmen, and a spokesman for Rouhani, claimed that the Iranian regime had the most transparent approach to Corona.

Masoud Pezeshkian, first deputy speaker of regime’s parliament, and former health minister admitted, “We should have quarantined Qom from day one… this disease is not a joke, the way we are dealing with it.” “Hospitals are overflowing and there is no room for more patients, and it will get worse day by day. The economy and everything will be ruined, it is no joke. What would have happened if they shut down the country for 15 days? (referring to the first outbreak in the city of Qom). If we did it the first day, it would not have spread to the entire country.” He added, “The numbers given are not real, because a number of patients have no symptoms. We find 95 people and two die, then we say 2 have died out of a 100, while it may be that only 2% of 10,000 have died” Pezeshkian said.

Bahram Parsai, a regime parliamentarian said today, “The reality is beyond the statistics… and if the world does not rush to the aid of our selfless doctors and medical staff, we will all lose.” Resalat newspaper close to Khamenei wrote: “We can’t just give false assurances and deny a virus outbreak until February 19, (the day before regime’s election) and then suddenly start beating on the drum about how dangerous Corona is and the possibility of spreading across the country only the day after.” Ebtekar daily’s ran an editorial on March 2, 2020, admitting, “What makes each of these crises more critical and more catastrophic is the loss of the public’s trust.”

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), referring to Khamenei’s disgraceful comment, said, “The only thing that matters for this regime and its officials is to keep their grip on power. People’s lives, health, and resources have no value for the ruling mullahs. The Iranian people have suffered the greatest damage and losses under their rule, as a result of external war, domestic repression, poverty, unemployment, and illnesses.”

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
March 3, 2020