Iran’s Leader Calls on Officials to Redouble Efforts to Contain COVID-19

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Saturday the disease is a pandemic which has affected not only Iran, but the whole world.

“The surge in the spread of the virus in autumn occurs across the whole world and is not limited to Iran,” said the Leader in a rare meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and other members of the National Coronavirus Headquarters. Despite previous online meetings, this time the Leader held a physical meeting with government officials.

He also touched upon different countries’ handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

“Some countries such as the United States have had the worst management [of the crisis], but we should try to use the best management to weather this pandemic, which is closely linked to people’s lives and health and security and economic situation,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

The Leader said the adoption of firm decisions by the government, convincing the general public and cooperation among all institutions as well as among people are the prelude to the proper handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

He said the restrictions imposed to contain the disease will make it harder for families to earn a living, and called on the government to support those families.