Iranian officials have denounced US President Donald Trump’s comments that the United States is ready to help the country fight the coronavirus.
Ali Rabiei, spokesman for the Hassan Rouhani administration, speaking about Trump’s recent statements that if Iran wanted aid to fight the coronavirus outbreak they can “ask for it,” said, “This comment by the president is a personal opinion and we have said multiple times that for us it does not make a difference who lives in the White House.” Rabiei said that the difference with Trump is that he makes accusations due to “his inability to cooperate with the world and his incorrect understanding of regional issues and domestic [US] issues.”
Rabiei said that even if a Democrat becomes president, “we will not have talks if they do not stop the bullying, sanctions and assassinations.” He added, “Our recommendation to America is rather than finding the same culprits — correct your path.” He also reiterated Iran’s position that the United States return to the talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany under the nuclear deal that the United States exited in May 2018.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also rejected any talks with the United States, calling it “an illusion” to think Iran would enter negotiations with the United States. The ministry's spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said at a press conference that the United States cannot be trusted to stick to its commitments and think it can take advantage of Iran’s positions fighting a pandemic to negotiate. He added that while the United States is currently short of medical supplies Washington claims it wants to help Iran with ventilators.
Rather than receive help from the United States, Mousavi said, “If there are items for which we do not have a domestic need, we are ready to help the American people.”
After the US exit from the nuclear deal, they reapplied sanctions. Iran has asked for sanctions relief in order to purchase supplies and goods from foreign markets, a request that the United States has rejected. Medical supplies are not subject to US sanctions under a general humanitarian exemption.
As Iran begins the second step of reopening its economy on April 20, after the widespread nationwide shutdowns due to the coronavirus, officials are warning citizens that they are not in the clear. Rabiei told reporters, “Essentially we do not have a normalized situation and we have to continue to be cautious. We have no choice but to live with social distancing and observe health protocols.”
Rabiei said that the country is battling on two fronts right now: sanctions and keeping its citizens healthy. He said that Iran is now producing 4,000,000 masks a day, up from 400,000, and that ventilators and test kits are also produced at home, and soon available for export if needed.
As the economy opens up, the administration has been under pressure by some to open up religious places. Mahmoud Vaezi, Rouhani’s chief of staff, said that the closure of mosques and other religious sites would remain in place until May 4. He said that the decision was made by the National Headquarters for Combatting the Coronavirus, which the president chairs.
Iran’s confirmed coronavirus case numbers have continued to decrease in the last week. According to Kianoush Jahanpour, Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman, in the last 24 hours 1,294 new infections have been confirmed and 91 individuals have died. According to official figures, 5,209 people have died and the total number of infections has reached 83,505.
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