Iran on the Brink of Collapse Due to US Sanctions Alone, Now Hit by COVID-19 as Well

Claims of Over 50 COVID-19 Deaths in Iran
Neighboring Countries Close Borders with Iran
Death Rate in Iran Reaches 20%

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Iran faces a heightened risk of further isolation due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Already struggling under U.S. sanctions, Iran's isolation has deepened as neighboring countries have taken lockdown measures such as closing borders to prevent the influx of COVID-19.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 24th (local time), the Iranian government reported 61 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths within Iran. The Middle East region, which had been relatively unaffected by COVID-19, has grown increasingly tense due to the rise in confirmed cases in Iran. Moreover, while the death rate in other countries is around 1%, Iran’s rate is alarmingly high, approaching 20%.

For this reason, Turkey has closed its border to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from Iran and suspended all flights to and from Iran. Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia, and Pakistan have also imposed restrictions on trade and human movement with Iran. Within Iran, only flights from certain countries are operating.

For Iran, which was already facing disruptions in trade due to sanctions from the United States, this represents a new adverse development.

A bigger issue is the question of whether the official situation acknowledged by the Iranian government reflects the actual reality.

Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, a member of parliament representing the religious city of Qom in Iran, stated, "About 50 people had died from COVID-19 by last night, and 250 people are in quarantine." Farahani added, "It has been three weeks since COVID-19 affected the Qom region, but unfortunately, there is a shortage of equipment to prevent infection."

The Iranian government strongly denies Farahani’s claims.

However, the Iranian government’s credibility is low, as it previously denied and later admitted to shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 176 passengers.

Meanwhile, many Iran experts expect that Iran will implement measures such as school closures ahead of the Iranian New Year on the 20th of next month. However, Iranian health authorities have stated that there is currently no reason to impose quarantine measures in any city.