Kianoush Jahanpour, the Health Ministry‘s spokesman, said on Sunday the new fatalities increase the death toll to 6,203.
He also confirmed 976 new cases of infection, raising the overal cases to 97,424.
The spokesman said 2,690 patients are currently in severe conditions of the disease.
He also noted that so far 496,273 COVID-19 tests have been taken.
Speaking at a Sunday session of the Coronavirus Fight National Headquarters, President Rouhani highlighted the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international politics, trade, economy and relations.
“While the US sanctions were being condemned with a soft tone one day, today the US sanctions are being condemned with a firm tone across the world as an inhumane and wrong measure being taken in such conditions,” the president noted.
“The coronavirus (outbreak) is an adventure that has changed the entire world, and this is really a wonder of the creation that a tiny invisible creature can change everything,” he added.
President Rouhani underlined that nothing will remain the same in the post-coronavirus era, saying the international politics, trade exchanges, and investment will all change in the post-coronavirus period.
“You can see now that in a world where some claimed that the only way for life is the big regional and international alliances, they have opted for nationalism. They are leaving the alliances. The alliances are becoming loose,” President Rouhani stated.
Pointing to the fierce competition between the governments for the medical supplies after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Iranian president said, “Even two countries that are apparently friends are snatching masks away from each other in the air.”
“No country gave masks to the other countries when it needed them. No country gave its bordering neighbor ventilators as long as it needed them. No country gave its (hospital) beds to its neighbors. Even in the European Union, we saw that they were near each other, but everybody cared only about themselves,” President Rouhani noted.
He finally explained that the pandemic has resulted in a revival of nationalism, adding, “The unions were weakened. The global policies were clearly brought into question.”
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In a statement on Sunday, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Abbas Mousavi offered condolences and expressed sympathy with the Iraqi government and proud nation over the martyrdom of the PMU forces.
He also expressed hope that the Iraqi government and nation’s rapport and diligence would help great Iraq immediately get rid of the few weakened remnants of the evil ISIS terrorist group, which has been created and is being supported under the auspices of certain governments.
“History has shown that the pure blood of combatants in the path of God will never be wasted, and the revenge will be taken for such pure blood, which has contributed to the growth of Islam, justice and truth,” he added.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the Iraqi efforts to fight against terrorism and establish peace and stability in that country, and rejects and condemns any measure aimed at upsetting stability and calm in Iraq,” the spokesperson underlined.
At least ten members of Iraqi PMU forces were killed in an attack carried out by the ISIS terror group in the Arab country’s Salahuddin province on Saturday.
ISIS has intensified its attacks in Iraq amid Baghdad’s call on the US to pull out its forces from the Arab country.
Local experts at a knowledge-based company in the Science and Technology Park of Gilan Province in northern Iran have designed and manufactured the N95 mask making machine.
The homegrown machine enjoys upgraded features compared to the foreign models.
The Iranian knowledge-based company has the experience of manufacturing industrial machines for the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and medical industries.
The firm has the capacity to manufacture 14 various industrial machines, particularly the packaging machinery.
One of the main homegrown devices manufactured by the company is a fully-automated blister packaging machine, which is protected by patent. Known as a knowledge-based device, the blister machine has become a source of competitive advantage for the manufacturer.
The blister machine has been also qualified by the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology.
The Iranian knowledge-based company has four patented inventions, including a pill making machine and the tablet and capsule blister packaging machine.
The enterprise has also received manufacturing permission from the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, has been awarded the CE marking for its machinery, has obtained ISO 9001 certification and has also customer satisfaction certifications.
Deputy Head of the Coordinating Council for Islamic Development said on Sunday “Certainly, this year we will not … hold Quds Day rallies nationwide due to the outbreak of the virus.”
Nosratollah Lotfi added that there will be a march as in previous years, but only in low-risk cities. In these counties, the march will be the same as in previous years, but after Friday prayers.
He further mentioned various plans have been proposed on how to hold the ceremonies this year.
“In cities such as Tehran and provincial capitals, there is a plan for a car march where motorcyclists will fly a flag and people will follow them. Another plan is to determine specific routes with social distance, and each direction would be taken over by one organisation.”
Meanwhile, Ramazan Sharif, Head of the Intifada and Holy Quds Central Office in Iran, said in a press conference that it is predicted the enemy would launch a media hype on the occasion of Int’l Quds Day, and it is already clear what their scenario is.
“Tehran is the main city, and if rallies are not supposed to be held in Tehran we should announce it clearly and focus on the media and getting messages from resistance figures,” Sharif said.
“As far as we know, the leader of Islamic Revolution will have a speech about Quds, and it would be a good thing if we could have Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh or one of the resistance figures as a guest,” continued Sharif.
The Quds Day, officially known as International Quds Day, is an annual event that has been held on the last Friday of Ramadan upon the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and oppose Zionism and Israel.
Quds Day is also held in many other countries, mainly in the Arab and Muslim world, with protests against Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem al-Quds. Rallies are held in various cities by both Muslim and non-Muslim communities around the world.
The president noted Sunday that mosques will reopen in low-risk or “white” towns and cities as of tomorrow, but schools will remain closed until late May at least.
“The number of businesses being reopened is increasing. Today, we decided to reopen mosques and Friday Prayers congregations as of tomorrow in 132 towns and cities which are regarded as ‘white’ areas, or ‘low-risk’ areas as some put it,” he said.
However, he added, health protocols should be observed all along.
“This is while they abide by health protocols. I believe there are two beautiful things with regards to mosques where [health] protocols are observed: the spiritual beauty, and the beauty of discipline and order and the enforcement of regulations,” he said.
“Let me put it this way. Two acts are being done at mosques: an obligatory act and a religiously rewarding act. When worshippers maintain their distances, they are doing an obligatory action.
“When they are saying their prayers at the mosque, they are doing a religiously rewarding action. In terms of priority, maintaining one’s social distance is more important than attending mass prayers at the mosque, which is a religiously rewarding act,” the president noted.
“So, when we see this compulsory duty and religiously rewarding act side by side, they become all the more beautiful when done together,” he said.
Iran’s president has urged the nation to be prepared in case the coronavirus outbreak might reach a peak in the future.
President Rouhani noted that enough medical equipment as well as basic commodities needed by people should be available, so that the general public will have no concerns in that regard.
He at the same time noted that enough equipment have been produced to meet domestic need for items needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said figures show 83% percent of people, on average, have abided by health protocols, which shows people’s respect for health directives.
The president also touched upon screening tests conducted nationwide to detect people infected with coronavirus.
“In the first phase, 78 million people were screened,” he said.
The president underlined some 30 million people are also scheduled to be screened in the second phase, which, as he added, is more accurate.
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Vice Admiral Ali Shamkhani said in a tweet that Washington’s attempt to circumvent UN Security Council Resolution 2231 will deal the coup de grace to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“This virus of sanctions is a tool used by the White House to maintain the United States’ declining hegemony,” he added.
The top official also lashed out at the European signatories to the JCPOA for failing to act decicisvely.
“On which side is Europe standing: Saving face and boosting multilateralism, or accepting humiliation again and contributing to unilateralism?” he asked rhetorically.
#JCPOA will die forever by circumventing 2231 Resolution & continuing #Iran‘s illegal weapons sanctions. Sanctions’ virus is the US tool for survival of its declining hegemony. What will #EU do: Save dignity & support multilateralism or Accept humiliation & help unilateralism?
— علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) May 2, 2020
His comments came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed a few days ago to use all means available to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran.
A ban on selling conventional weapons to Iran ends in October under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the JCPOA.
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Pompeo told a news conference.
He said he would ask the UN Security Council to prolong the ban, and that the United States will seek action from Britain, France and Germany — which remain part of the nuclear accord.
However, China and Russia are certain to oppose an extension. They only agreed to the five-year ban in 2015 as a compromise reached with the Obama administration.
Meanwhile, Pompeo referred to the US as a participant in the JCPOA during his comments.
Iran reacted the claim, saying US President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, and, hence, Washington was no longer a part of the deal.
Iran’s Ambassador to France Bahram Qassemi also berated Washington for breaching UN resolutions.
“By withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the United States both violated its JCPOA obligations and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and moved toward undermining the UN and even other partners to the Iran nuclear deal,” he said.
“It is not acceptable for a country to both breach its commitments and seek fabricated and selective interests in a deal by withdrawing from it,” he said.
“Playing a roguish and double-standard game with the JCPOA using UN resolutions as a tool to ratchet up the pressure and restrictions and violate the natural rights of Iran and any other independent country is not justifiable by any logic and criterion,” he said.
“Even the international community is against this interpretation and logic which defies globally recognized norms,” he said.
Qassemi’s comments came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said recently that Washington would not allow Iran to purchase weapons after a UN arms embargo on the country expires in October 2020.
Pompeo also said the US is still a participant in the JCPOA, a claim rejected by Iran.
Tehran said the US unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, so it is no longer considered a party to the nuclear deal.
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