Daily Archives: March 21, 2020

2020-03-21: News Headlines

RT (2020-03-21). Russia delivers over 100,000 Covid-19 test kits to 13 states, including Iran, North Korea. rt.com The testing tools for coronavirus were delivered to 13 countries, including Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states Iran and North Korea, Russia's public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Saturday. | The equipment manufactured in Russia can conduct over 100,000 tests for Covid-19, and has already been used to track down the first cases of the disease in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Moscow is due to ship the equipment to Serbia, as well as to Egypt and Venezuela. | Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said earlier this week that Russia has no shortage of testing kits. A government…

RT (2020-03-21). Iran & France conduct prisoner swap in 'act of mutual cooperation'. rt.com Iran and France carried out a prisoner swap on Friday, Tehran has confirmed. The Islamic Republic released a French academic, Roland Marchal, who was turned over to the French Embassy in Tehran. | Hours earlier, an Iranian engineer, Jalal Rohollahnejad, who was detained by France last year under a US extradition warrant, was freed by French authorities. | Iran had previously accused Paris of holding the Iranian national without due process. France made similar allegations regarding Tehran's detention of Marchal, with the issue straining bilateral relations. | A spokesman for the Iranian judiciary hailed the ex…

WorkWeek (2020-03-21). WorkWeek On SF Housing With Dean Preston, ILWU Port Safety & UCSF AFSCME Cancer Cluster. indybay.org WorkWeek interviews SF Supervisor Dean Preston about the housing crisis and the fight against evictions. Next WorkWeek hears about UAW auto worker wildcats over the failure to protect the health and safety of auto workers. We interview UAW 551 Chicago Ford worker Scott Houldierson. | Next WorkWeek hears about the conditions of Bay Area Longshore workers who are members of ILWU Local 10 with Trent Willis, president of the Local. | Last, WorkWeek interviews Stella Miranda, the wife of a UCSF AFSCME 3299 worker whose worksite was on radioactive contaminated land at the Hunters Point shipyard. | She talks about what…

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Moscow Calls on Washington to Lift Sanctions Against Iran Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow calls on the United States to abandon its unilateral sanctions against Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday.

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Coronavirus death toll rises to 1,556 in Iran. yenisafak.com A total of 123 people in Iran have died of coronavirus over the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 1,556, said Iranian health officials on Saturday.A Health Ministry statement said 966 new virus cases were found, raising the number of cases to 20,610.A total of 7,635 people who were treated for the virus have been discharged from hospitals to date, it added.The cases of new deaths dropped from the largest number recorded, 149.The virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China last December, has spread to at least 166 countries and regions around the globe, while the tally of confirmed cases topped 275,000, according…

Reza Amin (2020-03-21). Nowruz: The world keeps burning, but it keeps on turning. iranian.com Happy Iranian New Year, it's 1399! last year didn't end so well, but don't complete your 14th century on a lousy note! The 15th century is around the corner, and there is so much to look forward to. Enjoy your holiday, like all of Iran, then get back to work, and remember… Iranians have survived …

IRNA (2020-03-21). Qatar's 2nd medical shipment arrives in Tehran. iranian.com Second anti-COVID19 consignment donated by Qatari government arrived in Imam Khomeini International Airport in the capital on Friday to help Iran's fight against coronavirus outbreak. Based on the coordination between Iran and Qatar's governments and follow-ups made by Iran's Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian as Iranian head of Iran-Qatar Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Tehran received second …

Al Jazeera (2020-03-21). Delicious: Najmieh Batmanglij transforms Iran's national dish into a pizza. iranian.com Ghormeh sabzi on a pizza? Yara convinced the goddess of Iranian cuisine, Najmieh Batmanglij, to transform Iran's national dish into a pizza … with tons of cheese! Was it a delicacy or a disaster? Watch to find out.

RT (2020-03-20). 'Utter contempt for human life': Iranian FM Zarif slams US for hitting Tehran with new sanctions amid Covid-19 crisis. rt.com Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif accused the US of taking its policy of "maximum pressure" on Tehran to a "new level of inhumanity" by imposing new sanctions on Iran as it struggles to cope with a huge surge of Covid-19 cases.

Aaron Maté (2020-03-20). Expert: US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during pandemic could be genocidal. thegrayzone.com Intensified US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during the COVID-19 pandemic could amount to genocide, a former UN expert warns. Iran…

Gareth Porter (2020-03-20). Pompeo and Netanyahu paved a path to war with Iran, and they're pushing Trump again. thegrayzone.com Though it narrowly averted war with Iran this January, the Trump administration is still pushing for all-out military conflict. The…

Andrew Korybko (2020-03-20). Iran's IMF Request Shows Just How Desperate Tehran has Become. globalresearch.ca The combination of crippling American sanctions, the compliance with the aforesaid by the US' "comprehensive global strategic partner" India (formerly one of Tehran's top energy partners) out of fear of so-called "secondary sanctions", the uncontrollable outbreak of COVID-19 in the …

Kathy Kelly (2020-03-20). Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws against Iran. A Humanitarian Message. globalresearch.ca U.S. sanctions against Iran, cruelly strengthened in March of 2018, continue a collective punishment of extremely vulnerable people. Presently, the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy severely undermines Iranian efforts to cope with the ravages of COVID-19, causing hardship and tragedy while …

commondreams (2020-03-20). NIAC Action and 25 Organizations Urge Trump to Ease Iran Sanctions to Combat Coronavirus. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Ashley Curtin (2020-03-20). 25 organizations call on Trump administration to loosen crippling sanctions regime on Iran. nationofchange.org "With hospitals overrun and Iranian doctors struggling to procure necessary equipment, the U.S. must be part of the solution rather than part of the problem."

teleSUR (2020-03-20). Iran Willing to Help Fight Coronavirus in the United States. telesurenglish.net Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Friday stated his willingness to support the United States with medical personnel in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | "These are times of brotherhood. The best way to overcome the new coronavirus is through unity," Rouhani said. | "While other nations are bent on endangering the lives of their citizens, Iran is ready to focus its efforts on ending the pandemic," he added…

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-03-20). 'In This Dark Hour for the Iranian People,' Groups Demand Trump End Inhumane Sanctions Amid COVID-19 Outbreak. commondreams.org More than two dozen U.S. organizations came together Friday to pressure the Trump administration to recognize the coronavirus pandemic as a "shared threat" and temporarily ease economic sanctions on Iran, one of the countries hardest hit by the disease with nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,400 deaths. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12030525931.jpg

The Iranian (2020-03-20). Happy Nowruz! نوروزتان مبارک. iranian.com

Staff (2020-03-19). Headlines for March 19, 2020. democracynow.org Italy Records Record 475 Coronavirus Deaths as Infections Continue Climbing, British PM Boris Johnson Closes Schools After Reversing Lax Virus Containment Plan, Millions of Brazilians Protest from Windows and Balconies Demanding President's Ouster, World Health Organization Warns Critical Lack of Testing Is Costing Lives, Egypt Arrests Protesters Calling for Release of Prisoners at Risk of COVID-19, Yemen, Already Wracked by U.S.-Supported, Saudi-Led War, Braces for Coronavirus, Trump Admin Tightens Sanctions That Have Devastated Iran's Public Health System, Trump Signs Coronavirus Relief Bill Providing Paid Leav…

Staff (2020-03-19). Economists Demand Trump Immediately Lift Iran, Cuba, Venezuela Sanctions. truthout.org A group of economists and policy experts on Wednesday

Sputnik News (2020-03-19). US Aims to 'Maximize Suffering' With Iran Sanctions as Outbreak Deepens — Scholar. iranian.com On Tuesday, the US added even more sanctions on Iran, which is in the midst of a severe COVID-19 outbreak. US sanctions were already killing the sick in Iran even before the pandemic, but one Iranian scholar told Sputnik the bigger problem is regional poverty, which is also largely Washington's doing. US Secretary of State …

Sputnik News (2020-03-19). Iranian Doctors Urge Neighbours to Liquidate Any US Biological Labs Amid Coronavirus Fears. iranian.com With over 17,300 cases and 1,135 deaths to date, Iran has been one of the countries hit hardest by COVID-19, with the virus affecting not only the population at large, but a big portion of the political elite as well. Last week, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said there was evidence that the pandemic may have …

IRNA (2020-03-19). China, France send anti-Coronavirus aid to Iran. iranian.com Beijing Municipality sent 30 tons of medical and healthcare items to Iran in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The donation has been sent to the capital city of Tehran by 11 trucks. Thanking China for the measure, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi called for mutual cooperation in various areas. France sends medical aid …

Golnaz Esfandiari (2020-03-19). Vulnerable Vets: Coronavirus Threatens Iran's Chemical-Weapons Victims. iranian.com As the deadly coronavirus continues to bedevil Iran, there is growing concern about the danger it poses to tens of thousands of victims of chemical weapons who suffer from respiratory problems and lung diseases. An estimated 100,000 Iranians survived chemical-weapons attacks by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, and many are disabled …

Kathy Kelly (2020-03-18). Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws: A Humanitarian Message. dissidentvoice.org Protester's sign decries sanctions, "a silent war" (Photo Credit: Campaign for Peace and Democracy, 2013) U.S. sanctions against Iran, cruelly strengthened in March of 2018, continue a collective punishment of extremely vulnerable people. Presently, the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy severely undermines Iranian efforts to cope with the ravages of COVID-19, causing hardship and tragedy while …

MBNJSD (2020-03-18). 12 Ways the U.S. Invasion of Iraq Lives on in Infamy. dissidentvoice.org While the world is consumed with the terrifying coronavirus pandemic, on March 19 the Trump administration will be marking the 17th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq by ramping up the conflict there. After an Iran-aligned militia allegedly struck a U.S. base near Baghdad on March 11, the U.S. military carried out retaliatory strikes …

Jason Ditz (2020-03-18). US Imposes New Iran Sanctions, Complicating Coronavirus. iranian.com Last week, Iranian officials emphasized that US sanctions are making their reaction to the coronavirus outbreak much more difficult, leading to both Iran and China to urge the US to put those sanctions on hold for humanitarian reason. Not going after Iran for humanitarian reasons, needless to say, isn't a policy that the administration considers, …

The Iranian (2020-03-18). Iran reports spike in deaths. iranian.com Iran reported 147 more deaths from the coronavirus, its single biggest jump. The 15 percent spike raised the death toll to 1,135 people nationwide. The rise in deaths comes as the number of infections continues to grow each day, with some 17,361 people infected, according to Iran's deputy health minister, Alireza Raisi.

Mark Fitzpatrick (2020-03-17). How can the US support Iran's response to the coronavirus and bolster diplomacy? iranian.com As Tehran is scrambling to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Iran, Mark Fitzpatrick explains why the United States should facilitate the humanitarian assistance Iran needs to address its current public health crisis. The United States' policy toward Iran is stuck in a rut. Government officials know well that the maximum pressure campaign …

Press TV (2020-03-17). Iran calls on Europe to defy US sanctions amid COVID-19 outbreak. iranian.com Iran's foreign minister has called on London and the European Union to defy Washington's anti-Iran sanctions amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. In a Monday phone conversation with his British counterpart Dominic Raab, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced the US' illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran as an obstacle to the battle …

RT (2020-03-17). Khamenei finally grasps severity of Coronavirus: Issues fatwa banning 'unnecessary travel'. iranian.com The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made a religious ruling that prohibits "unnecessary travel" in the country in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19. Iran's death toll from the outbreak is nearing 1,000. The fatwa urges citizens to respect the orders of the health authorities and to refrain from traveling …

Tasnim News (2020-03-16). China Calls US Sanctions against Iran 'Immoral' amid Virus Epidemic. iranian.com China on Monday called on the US to remove its sanctions against Iran, saying that the embargoes will hamper the country's response to the coronavirus outbreak. The unilateral US sanctions will further hamper Iran's efforts in combating the virus while it's already struggling to cope with the crisis, Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry …

Lilly Dragnev (2020-03-13). Latest U.S. Military Strikes Are as Reckless as they are Cruel. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — March 12, 2020 — In response to reports that the U.S. has carried out five airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia sites in Iraq, Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of Peace Action, released the following statement: "At a time of one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, it is shocking that the Trump …

Staff (2020-03-12). Headlines for March 12, 2020. democracynow.org World Health Organization Declares Coronavirus Pandemic, Top Italian Health Official Among 827 Coronavirus Dead as Italy Faces "Darkest Hour", Iran Condemns U.S. Sanctions as "Medical Terrorism" as Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 429, President Trump Announces Europe Travel Ban in Error-Laden Oval Office Speech, U.S. Labs Face Shortage of Supplies Needed to Test for Coronavirus, Sen. Lamar Alexander Blocks Quick Passage of Paid Sick Leave Bill, School Closures from Coronavirus Affecting Over 1 Million K-12 Students Nationwide, Bernie Sanders Promises to Question Biden Over Progressive Policies at Next Debate, Joe Bid…

Paul Kawika Martin (2020-03-11). Congress Sends Bipartisan Bill to Trump Rebuking Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — March 11, 2020 — In response to the House passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Both chambers and …

Roy M Anderson, Hans Heesterbeek, Don Klinkenberg, T Déirdre Hollingsworth (2020-03-09). [Comment] How will country-based mitigation measures influence the course of the COVID-19 epidemic? thelancet.com Governments will not be able to minimise both deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the economic impact of viral spread. Keeping mortality as low as possible will be the highest priority for individuals; hence governments must put in place measures to ameliorate the inevitable economic downturn. In our view, COVID-19 has developed into a pandemic, with small chains of transmission in many countries and large chains resulting in extensive spread in a few countries, such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan.

Paul Kawika Martin (2020-02-13). Senate Reclaims War Powers to Thwart Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — February 13, 2020 — In response to the Senate passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "It's about time …

Strategic Culture (2020-02-08). US Deploys 'Mini-Nukes' in Deplorable Threat to World Peace. theantimedia.com These so-called "mini-nukes" represent—despite the diminutive-sounding name—an increased risk of nuclear war.

Kiran Reddy, Cecilia O'Kane, Daniel McAuley (2020-02-07). [Comment] Corticosteroids in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a step forward, but more evidence is needed. thelancet.com Debate continues about the potential role of corticosteroids as therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).1—3 In The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Jesús Villar and colleagues4 report the results from a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial investigating prolonged dexamethasone treatment in patients with established moderate-to-severe ARDS, which adds important new data to this debate. In this study, patients in the dexamethasone group had reduced duration of ventilation and mortality compared with those in the control group;4 the primary outcome, ventilator-free days at 28 days, w…

Jason Ditz (2020-02-05). Trump Says War With Iran Was "Closer Than You Thought" Last Month. theantimedia.com Trump told reporters that the U.S. came "closer than you thought" to war with Iran last month.

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-31). House Votes to Rein in Trump's Iran War Powers While Ending Endless Wars. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2020 — In response to two high-profile war powers votes on the House floor today, Peace Action released the following statement: "Our nation's endless wars are on autopilot, with Trump fitfully grabbing the steering wheel until his attention wanders somewhere else. Today's votes are a step toward Congress reclaiming its …

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-08). In the ongoing crisis, Congress must rein in Trump's war powers. peaceaction.org As we feared, President Trump's reckless assassination of Iran's Gen. Soleimani resulted in escalation — direct Iranian missile attacks on two military bases in Iraq. It's painful to watch more violence in a country that has already suffered far too much from endless war. All parties in the US/Iran conflict must cease military action and …

Joe Brierley, Stephen Playfor, Samiran Ray (2019-12-16). [Comment] Planning for the next pandemic: a call for new guidance. thelancet.com "Everything flows and nothing abides, everything gives way and nothing stays fixed"Heraclitus…

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Jon Rainwater (2019-09-25). Take Action to Avoid War with Iran. peaceaction.org photo credit Dear Groundswell Readers, We have to keep pushing Congress this week if we want to avoid war with Iran. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said recently that the U.K. might join a U.S.-led military effort in the Gulf. When other nations step up to join the "coalition of the willing" it's often a bad sign. …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-07-18). Diplomacy Instead of a Disaster in Iran. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 18, 2019 — In response to reports of the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because of the Trump administration's policy of maximum provocation towards Iran, America stands on the precipice of another blunderous …

2020-03-21: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Iran & France conduct prisoner swap in 'act of mutual cooperation'
rt.com | 2020-03-21
Iran and France carried out a prisoner swap on Friday, Tehran has confirmed. The Islamic Republic released a French academic, Roland Marchal, who was turned over to the French Embassy in Tehran. | Hours earlier, an Iranian engineer, Jalal Rohollahnejad, who was detained by France last year under a US extradition warrant, was freed by French authorities. | Iran had previously accused Paris of holding the Iranian national without due process. France made similar allegations regarding Tehran's detention of Marchal, with the issue straining bilateral relations. | A spokesman for the Iranian judiciary hailed the ex…
rt.com/newsline/483702-iran-france-prisoner-swap-cooperation/

Russia delivers over 100,000 Covid-19 test kits to 13 states, including Iran, North Korea
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The testing tools for coronavirus were delivered to 13 countries, including Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states Iran and North Korea, Russia's public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Saturday. | The equipment manufactured in Russia can conduct over 100,000 tests for Covid-19, and has already been used to track down the first cases of the disease in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Moscow is due to ship the equipment to Serbia, as well as to Egypt and Venezuela. | Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said earlier this week that Russia has no shortage of testing kits. A government…
rt.com/russia/483701-russia-ships-coronavirus-testing/

WorkWeek On SF Housing With Dean Preston, ILWU Port Safety & UCSF AFSCME Cancer Cluster
WorkWeek | indybay.org | 2020-03-21
WorkWeek interviews SF Supervisor Dean Preston about the housing crisis and the fight against evictions. Next WorkWeek hears about UAW auto worker wildcats over the failure to protect the health and safety of auto workers. We interview UAW 551 Chicago Ford worker Scott Houldierson. | Next WorkWeek hears about the conditions of Bay Area Longshore workers who are members of ILWU Local 10 with Trent Willis, president of the Local. | Last, WorkWeek interviews Stella Miranda, the wife of a UCSF AFSCME 3299 worker whose worksite was on radioactive contaminated land at the Hunters Point shipyard. | She talks about what…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/19/18831678.php

Coronavirus death toll rises to 1,556 in Iran
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
A total of 123 people in Iran have died of coronavirus over the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 1,556, said Iranian health officials on Saturday.A Health Ministry statement said 966 new virus cases were found, raising the number of cases to 20,610.A total of 7,635 people who were treated for the virus have been discharged from hospitals to date, it added.The cases of new deaths dropped from the largest number recorded, 149.The virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China last December, has spread to at least 166 countries and regions around the globe, while the tally of confirmed cases topped 275,000, according…
yenisafak.com/en/world/coronavirus-death-toll-rises-to-1556-in-iran-3514580

Moscow Calls on Washington to Lift Sanctions Against Iran Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow calls on the United States to abandon its unilateral sanctions against Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday.
sputniknews.com/world/202003211078656955-moscow-calls-on-washington-to-lift-sanctions-against-iran-amid-covid-19-pandemic/

Nowruz: The world keeps burning, but it keeps on turning
Reza Amin | iranian.com | 2020-03-21
Happy Iranian New Year, it's 1399! last year didn't end so well, but don't complete your 14th century on a lousy note! The 15th century is around the corner, and there is so much to look forward to. Enjoy your holiday, like all of Iran, then get back to work, and remember… Iranians have survived …
iranian.com/2020/03/20/nowruz-the-world-keeps-burning-but-it-keeps-on-turning/

Delicious: Najmieh Batmanglij transforms Iran's national dish into a pizza
Al Jazeera | iranian.com | 2020-03-21
Ghormeh sabzi on a pizza? Yara convinced the goddess of Iranian cuisine, Najmieh Batmanglij, to transform Iran's national dish into a pizza … with tons of cheese! Was it a delicacy or a disaster? Watch to find out.
iranian.com/2020/03/20/delicious-najmieh-batmanglij-transforms-irans-national-dish-into-a-pizza/

Qatar's 2nd medical shipment arrives in Tehran
IRNA | iranian.com | 2020-03-21
Second anti-COVID19 consignment donated by Qatari government arrived in Imam Khomeini International Airport in the capital on Friday to help Iran's fight against coronavirus outbreak. Based on the coordination between Iran and Qatar's governments and follow-ups made by Iran's Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian as Iranian head of Iran-Qatar Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Tehran received second …
iranian.com/2020/03/21/qatars-2nd-medical-shipment-arrives-in-tehran/

Pompeo and Netanyahu paved a path to war with Iran, and they're pushing Trump again
Gareth Porter | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-20
Though it narrowly averted war with Iran this January, the Trump administration is still pushing for all-out military conflict. The…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/20/pompeo-netanyahu-war-iran-trump/

Expert: US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during pandemic could be genocidal
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-20
Intensified US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during the COVID-19 pandemic could amount to genocide, a former UN expert warns. Iran…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/20/expert-us-sanctions-on-iran-venezuela-during-pandemic-could-be-genocidal/

Expert: US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during pandemic could be genocidal
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-20
Intensified US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela during the COVID-19 pandemic could amount to genocide, a former UN expert warns. Iran…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/20/expert-us-sanctions-on-iran-venezuela-during-pandemic-could-be-genocidal/

Iran's IMF Request Shows Just How Desperate Tehran has Become
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-20
The combination of crippling American sanctions, the compliance with the aforesaid by the US' "comprehensive global strategic partner" India (formerly one of Tehran's top energy partners) out of fear of so-called "secondary sanctions", the uncontrollable outbreak of COVID-19 in the …
globalresearch.ca/iran-imf-request-shows-desperate/5706926

Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws against Iran. A Humanitarian Message
Kathy Kelly | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-20
U.S. sanctions against Iran, cruelly strengthened in March of 2018, continue a collective punishment of extremely vulnerable people. Presently, the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy severely undermines Iranian efforts to cope with the ravages of COVID-19, causing hardship and tragedy while …
globalresearch.ca/stop-tightening-thumb-screws-humanitarian-message/5706832

'Utter contempt for human life': Iranian FM Zarif slams US for hitting Tehran with new sanctions amid Covid-19 crisis
rt.com | 2020-03-20
Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif accused the US of taking its policy of "maximum pressure" on Tehran to a "new level of inhumanity" by imposing new sanctions on Iran as it struggles to cope with a huge surge of Covid-19 cases. | …
rt.com/news/483671-iran-zarif-us-sanctions/

25 organizations call on Trump administration to loosen crippling sanctions regime on Iran
Ashley Curtin | nationofchange.org | 2020-03-20
"With hospitals overrun and Iranian doctors struggling to procure necessary equipment, the U.S. must be part of the solution rather than part of the problem."
nationofchange.org/2020/03/20/25-organizations-call-on-trump-administration-to-loosen-crippling-sanctions-regime-on-iran/

Iran Willing to Help Fight Coronavirus in the United States
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-20
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Friday stated his willingness to support the United States with medical personnel in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | Iran Temporarily Frees 85,000 Inmates As Pandemic Worsens | "These are times of brotherhood. The best way to overcome the new coronavirus is through unity," Rouhani said. | "While other nations are bent on endangering the lives of their citizens, Iran is ready to focus its efforts on ending the pandemic," he added…
telesurenglish.net/news/iran-willing-to-help-fight-coronavirus-in-the-us-20200320-0011.html

NIAC Action and 25 Organizations Urge Trump to Ease Iran Sanctions to Combat Coronavirus
commondreams.org | 2020-03-20
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2020/03/20/niac-action-and-25-organizations-urge-trump-ease-iran-sanctions-combat?cd-origin=rss

Happy Nowruz! نوروزتان مبارک
The Iranian | iranian.com | 2020-03-20
iranian.com/2020/03/20/happy-nowruz-%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%b2%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%85%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b1%da%a9/

'In This Dark Hour for the Iranian People,' Groups Demand Trump End Inhumane Sanctions Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-03-20
More than two dozen U.S. organizations came together Friday to pressure the Trump administration to recognize the coronavirus pandemic as a "shared threat" and temporarily ease economic sanctions on Iran, one of the countries hardest hit by the disease with nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,400 deaths. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12030525931.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/03/20/dark-hour-iranian-people-groups-demand-trump-end-inhumane-sanctions-amid-covid-19?cd-origin=rss

'In This Dark Hour for the Iranian People,' Groups Demand Trump End Inhumane Sanctions Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Jessica Corbett, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-03-20
More than two dozen U.S. organizations came together Friday to pressure the Trump administration to recognize the coronavirus pandemic as a "shared threat" and temporarily ease economic sanctions on Iran, one of the countries hardest hit by the disease with nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,400 deaths. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12030525931.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/03/20/dark-hour-iranian-people-groups-demand-trump-end-inhumane-sanctions-amid-covid-19?cd-origin=rss

Economists Demand Trump Immediately Lift Iran, Cuba, Venezuela Sanctions
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-03-19
A group of economists and policy experts on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to immediately lift the United States' crippling sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries, warning that the economic warfare

Iranian Doctors Urge Neighbours to Liquidate Any US Biological Labs Amid Coronavirus Fears
Sputnik News | iranian.com | 2020-03-19
With over 17,300 cases and 1,135 deaths to date, Iran has been one of the countries hit hardest by COVID-19, with the virus affecting not only the population at large, but a big portion of the political elite as well. Last week, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said there was evidence that the pandemic may have …
iranian.com/2020/03/19/iranian-doctors-urge-neighbours-to-liquidate-any-us-biological-labs-amid-coronavirus-fears/

China, France send anti-Coronavirus aid to Iran
IRNA | iranian.com | 2020-03-19
Beijing Municipality sent 30 tons of medical and healthcare items to Iran in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The donation has been sent to the capital city of Tehran by 11 trucks. Thanking China for the measure, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi called for mutual cooperation in various areas. France sends medical aid …
iranian.com/2020/03/19/china-france-send-anti-coronavirus-aid-to-iran/

Vulnerable Vets: Coronavirus Threatens Iran's Chemical-Weapons Victims
Golnaz Esfandiari | iranian.com | 2020-03-19
As the deadly coronavirus continues to bedevil Iran, there is growing concern about the danger it poses to tens of thousands of victims of chemical weapons who suffer from respiratory problems and lung diseases. An estimated 100,000 Iranians survived chemical-weapons attacks by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, and many are disabled …
iranian.com/2020/03/18/vulnerable-vets-coronavirus-threatens-irans-chemical-weapons-victims/

Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws: A Humanitarian Message
Kathy Kelly | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-18
Protester's sign decries sanctions, "a silent war" (Photo Credit: Campaign for Peace and Democracy, 2013) U.S. sanctions against Iran, cruelly strengthened in March of 2018, continue a collective punishment of extremely vulnerable people. Presently, the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy severely undermines Iranian efforts to cope with the ravages of COVID-19, causing hardship and tragedy while …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/stop-tightening-the-thumb-screws-a-humanitarian-message/

Stop Tightening the Thumb Screws: A Humanitarian Message
Kathy Kelly | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-18
Protester's sign decries sanctions, "a silent war" (Photo Credit: Campaign for Peace and Democracy, 2013) U.S. sanctions against Iran, cruelly strengthened in March of 2018, continue a collective punishment of extremely vulnerable people. Presently, the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy severely undermines Iranian efforts to cope with the ravages of COVID-19, causing hardship and tragedy while …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/stop-tightening-the-thumb-screws-a-humanitarian-message/

12 Ways the U.S. Invasion of Iraq Lives on in Infamy
MBNJSD | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-18
While the world is consumed with the terrifying coronavirus pandemic, on March 19 the Trump administration will be marking the 17th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq by ramping up the conflict there. After an Iran-aligned militia allegedly struck a U.S. base near Baghdad on March 11, the U.S. military carried out retaliatory strikes …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/12-ways-the-u-s-invasion-of-iraq-lives-on-in-infamy/

US Imposes New Iran Sanctions, Complicating Coronavirus
Jason Ditz | iranian.com | 2020-03-18
Last week, Iranian officials emphasized that US sanctions are making their reaction to the coronavirus outbreak much more difficult, leading to both Iran and China to urge the US to put those sanctions on hold for humanitarian reason. Not going after Iran for humanitarian reasons, needless to say, isn't a policy that the administration considers, …
iranian.com/2020/03/17/us-imposes-new-iran-sanctions-complicating-coronavirus/

Iran reports spike in deaths
The Iranian | iranian.com | 2020-03-18
Iran reported 147 more deaths from the coronavirus, its single biggest jump. The 15 percent spike raised the death toll to 1,135 people nationwide. The rise in deaths comes as the number of infections continues to grow each day, with some 17,361 people infected, according to Iran's deputy health minister, Alireza Raisi.
iranian.com/2020/03/18/iran-reports-spike-in-deaths/

Khamenei finally grasps severity of Coronavirus: Issues fatwa banning 'unnecessary travel'
RT | iranian.com | 2020-03-17
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made a religious ruling that prohibits "unnecessary travel" in the country in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19. Iran's death toll from the outbreak is nearing 1,000. The fatwa urges citizens to respect the orders of the health authorities and to refrain from traveling …
iranian.com/2020/03/17/khamenei-coronavirus-fatwa-travel/

Iran calls on Europe to defy US sanctions amid COVID-19 outbreak
Press TV | iranian.com | 2020-03-17
Iran's foreign minister has called on London and the European Union to defy Washington's anti-Iran sanctions amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. In a Monday phone conversation with his British counterpart Dominic Raab, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced the US' illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran as an obstacle to the battle …
iranian.com/2020/03/17/iran-calls-on-europe-to-defy-us-sanctions-amid-covid-19-outbreak/

How can the US support Iran's response to the coronavirus and bolster diplomacy?
Mark Fitzpatrick | iranian.com | 2020-03-17
As Tehran is scrambling to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Iran, Mark Fitzpatrick explains why the United States should facilitate the humanitarian assistance Iran needs to address its current public health crisis. The United States' policy toward Iran is stuck in a rut. Government officials know well that the maximum pressure campaign …
iranian.com/2020/03/16/how-can-the-us-support-irans-response-to-the-coronavirus-and-bolster-diplomacy/

China Calls US Sanctions against Iran 'Immoral' amid Virus Epidemic
Tasnim News | iranian.com | 2020-03-16
China on Monday called on the US to remove its sanctions against Iran, saying that the embargoes will hamper the country's response to the coronavirus outbreak. The unilateral US sanctions will further hamper Iran's efforts in combating the virus while it's already struggling to cope with the crisis, Geng Shuang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry …
iranian.com/2020/03/16/china-calls-us-sanctions-against-iran-immoral-amid-virus-epidemic/

Latest U.S. Military Strikes Are as Reckless as they are Cruel
Lilly Dragnev | peaceaction.org | 2020-03-13
Washington, D.C.

Latest U.S. Military Strikes Are as Reckless as they are Cruel
Lilly Dragnev | peaceaction.org | 2020-03-13
Washington, D.C.

Congress Sends Bipartisan Bill to Trump Rebuking Iran War
Paul Kawika Martin | peaceaction.org | 2020-03-11
Washington, D.C.

[Comment] How will country-based mitigation measures influence the course of the COVID-19 epidemic?
Roy M Anderson, Hans Heesterbeek, Don Klinkenberg, T Déirdre Hollingsworth | thelancet.com | 2020-03-09
Governments will not be able to minimise both deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the economic impact of viral spread. Keeping mortality as low as possible will be the highest priority for individuals; hence governments must put in place measures to ameliorate the inevitable economic downturn. In our view, COVID-19 has developed into a pandemic, with small chains of transmission in many countries and large chains resulting in extensive spread in a few countries, such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30567-5/fulltext?rss=yes