Iran: Coronavirus death toll reaches 11,500 in 222 cities

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) announced this afternoon, March 25, 2020, that Coronavirus has taken the lives of more than 11,500 in 222 cities across Iran. The number of victims in Khorasan Razavi is 980, in North Khorasan 59, in Khuzestan 500, in Isfahan 1360, in Kermanshah 280, in Yazd 230, in Lorestan 230, in Hamadan 240, in Zanjan 150, and Sistan and Baluchistan 70.

While reports and statements by regime officials point to the escalation of the outbreak, fatalities, and severe scarcities of facilities, Hassan Rouhani claimed, “Until today, we had no shortages of beds, nurses, or doctors. Even in intensive care units (ICU), in most cities and provinces, we have reserves. Yesterday, I was particularly worried about Mashhad in these days; however, it turned out that 30% percent of ICU beds were empty. There is good planning in place”!

The regime’s president also claimed yesterday, “Hospital admissions (for Coronavirus) have decreased and the death toll is declining.”

Meanwhile, today, the regime’s Ministry of Health announced that the number of newly infected patients in the past 24 hours is 2,206, up 25% from yesterday, and 130% higher than last Saturday.

Today, the Governor of West-Azerbaijan said the number of patients and carriers of the virus is several times the number reported.

Mohammad Hossein Ghorbani, Health Ministry’s representative in Gilan, said, “Gilan is still the epicenter for the Corona crisis … If the second wave of corona outbreak starts, the damage will be far greater than the first stage … We are concerned since our medical staff are exhausted due to weeks of hard and nonstop work.”

On Monday, March 23, 2020, state-run Shargh daily quoted the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiological Analysis Working Group, as suggesting that until mid-May, between 811,000 to 1.16 million will be infected by the virus in Iran.

Majid Farahani, a member of Tehran’s city council, wrote to Rouhani, “China started its quarantine after 30 people had lost their lives, Spain after 200, and France after 175 people had died. How many people must die in Iran?” “We have customarily witnessed people expressing their dissatisfaction with the reopening of offices. On the one hand, they are told to stay home and quarantine themselves, but on the other hand, offices are opened,” Fatemeh Zolghadr, a member of regime’s parliament.

Referring to Rouhani’s brazen remarks, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said: “The mullahs have filled the cemeteries while falsely claiming that the hospitals are empty. They have expelled Doctors without Borders, boasting that we have (enough) facilities. At the same time, they falsely say the sanctions have caused the spread of the coronavirus. Therefore, the vast medical and financial resources in the hands of the IRGC and Khamenei’s offices should be made available to the poor.

Mrs. Rajavi reminded those who are shedding crocodile tears for the religious fascism ruling Iran because of the sanctions should also show some empathy for the Iranian people. And if they are true to their words, they should force the regime to allow journalists, observers, missions, and foreign aid into the country and allow assistance to reach needy without intermediaries. They should also press the regime to release all prisoners and to stop arrest, torture, and execution, and especially, compel the regime not to prevent the rebellious youth’s from helping their fellow citizens.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
March 25, 2020