Iran army to clear streets as 81 million face life indoors

By Abbie Cheeseman and

James Rothwell THE Iranian army has been given 24 hours to empty the country’s streets and every citizen is to be tested for coronavirus, it was announced yesterday.

Major Gen Mohammad Bagheri said a commission had been set up to carry out the “emptying of shops, streets and roads” in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.

The drastic move implies that Iran’s entire population of 81million people will be confined to their homes for the foreseeable future.

Gen Bagheri added: “During the next 10 days, the entire Iranian nation will be monitored through cyberspace, by phone and, if necessary, in person, and those suspected of being ill will be fully identified.”

The new measures were announced as Tehran disclosed the number of infected people had jumped by more than 1,000 in the past 24 hours to 11,364, while 514 people had died.

There are also reports of Iran rapidly expanding the number of graves at a cemetery near the city of Qom, where the outbreak was particularly severe due to people licking holy shrines.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has made the outlandish claim that the coronavirus outbreak may be part of a “biological attack” by foreign powers.

It also emerged yesterday that one of Khamenei’s senior advisers has tested positive for the virus, which raises questions over whether the 80-yearold Ayatollah has been infected.

Meanwhile, an Iranian cleric has said it will be acceptable to use any vaccines created by Israel, the country’s mortal enemy, if there is no alternative.