- Deputy Health Minister: (Muharram’s) Mourning ceremonies in a closed area take things out of our hands again, and this is irreparable damage. (State TV, August 15)
- Health Ministry Spokesperson: In Kerman Province, the infection and hospitalizations increased from the beginning of June and peaked in July. The epidemic condition in the Province is still delicate, unstable, and worrying. (IRNA, August 17)
- Head of the country’s emergency organization: During the Coronavirus outbreak, calls to [the emergency organization] have quadrupled. After six months, our colleagues are still on standby and have not taken leave. Also, 1900 colleagues became infected with the Coronavirus (ILNA news agency, August 17)
- Head of the Khorasan Razavi State Security Force (SSF): 1,000 SSF (agents) have contracted the virus. (Sobh-e Mashhad daily, August 17)
- President of Sarab University of Medical Sciences: With the continuation of this trend and the widespread prevalence of infected patients, we will face a shortage of beds in the coming days. (Javan, August 16)
- Former Deputy Minister of Science and the current Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Medical Organization: Who will take responsibility for an impending human catastrophe in the country?! Mr. President? Government? Parliament? Or the Ministers of Science and Health? (Mostaghel daily, August 17)
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced on Monday, August 17, 2020, that the Coronavirus fatalities in 392 cities in Iran had, unfortunately, exceeded 90,100. The number of victims in Mazandaran reached 4,278, Isfahan 3,951, Lorestan 3,732, Gilan 3,772, Sistan and Baluchestan 2,886, Fars 2,543, Alborz 2,670, Hamedan 2,304, Kurdistan 1,794, Kerman 1,388, Hormozgan 1,189, Bushehr 1,110, Ilam 725, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad 510.
Mostafa Moeen, the former Minister of Science and the current Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Medical Organization, told Mostaghel daily today, “With contradictory statements and multiple and conflicting actions taken, and when the words and deeds of government officials are controversial, it is not possible to scientifically manage this deadly epidemic by gaining the trust and cooperation of the people and the public participation in dealing with a dangerous crisis as pervasive and critical as Coronavirus,. Who will take responsibility for an impending human catastrophe in the country and be accountable?! The President? The Government? The Parliament? Or the ministers of science and health?!
Referring to the actual figures of the Coronavirus fatalities, the state-run daily, Etemad wrote, today, “The government considers what it says is the absolute truth and does not allow others to comment contrary to that. This is not acceptable … If there is no transparency, we will receive a blow from where we are not expecting and will be prepared to defend ourselves.”
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
August 17, 2020
