Oman reports sixth case as Iran leadership struggles to contain spread of virus

MINISTRY SNUBS US OFFER TO HELP AS TOLL HITS 34 AMID 388 CASES

Iran yesterday rejected a report by BBC Persian that at least 210 people have died from coronavirus in the country. Iran’s health ministry spokesman spokesman, Kianush Jahanpur, had earlier announced a huge spike in infections, saying there were 388 confirmed coronavirus cases and 34 deaths.

Earlier in the week, the government denied a claim by a lawmaker from Qom that 50 people had died in that city alone. BBC Persian, which is banned in Iran, cited unidentified sources at various hospitals, but gave no details about their locations.

‘Ridiculous’ offer

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi yesterday said America’s offer to help Iran deal with the coronavirus is “ridiculous”, according to the Mehr news agency.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US had offered to help with the response in Iran, and raised doubts about Tehran’s willingness to share information.

“The claim to help Iran in dealing with corona from a country who with their economic terrorism has created widespread pressure for the people of Iran and even closed the paths for buying medicine and medical equipment, is a ridiculous claim and a political-psychological game,” Mousavi said.

New enemy

After facing sanctions and the risk of war amid tensions with the US, Iran’s rulers now have an enemy in the new coronavirus that infiltrated its leadership in plain view of state-controlled media and despite repeated denials of any looming threat.

The outbreak of the new virus in Iran has been dramatic — the head of Iran’s task force to stop the illness was seen coughing, sweating and wheezing across televised interviews before acknowledging he was infected.

Then days later, a visibly pale official sat only metres away from President Hassan Rouhani and other top leaders before she too reportedly came down with the virus.

Yesterday, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour cautioned the number of cases would likely further spike as Iran now has 15 laboratories testing samples.

In Tehran and other cities, authorities cancelled Friday prayer services to limit crowds. In the capital, Radio Tehran, which typically carries the prayer, played only traditional Iranian music. Universities are to remain closed another week.

In Mashhad, at the Imam Reza Shrine, hazmat-suited cleaners fogged disinfectant across surfaces that the faithful kiss and touch as workers installed hand sanitisers. Trucks from the Revolutionary Guard sprayed down streets and sidewalks in Qom, the epicentre of the outbreak.