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Khamenei lauds Iranians' 'dazzling' sacrifices to fight virus

March 20, 2020 at 7:38 pm

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his ballot for the 11th Parliamentary elections at Hosseiniyeh Imam Khamenei polling station in Tehran, Iran on 21 February, 2020 [Iranian Supreme Leader Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency]

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a speech on state television for the Persian New Year, praised Iranians for their “dazzling” sacrifices in fighting the coronavirus outbreak in the worst-hit country in the Middle East.

Khamenei, Iran’s highest authority, said it had been a tumultuous year for Iranians who have endured US sanctions, floods, and the coronavirus, which has killed more than 1,400 people in Iran and infected nearly 20,000.

“These acts of sacrifice were made by medical groups, physicians, nurses, assistants, managers and the staff working in hospitals,” said Khamenei, who looked healthy despite rumours that he had been infected with the new coronavirus.

Officials close to Khamenei, contacted by Reuters on Wednesday, denied the rumours.

READ: 3.5m will die from coronavirus in Iran if quarantine isn’t imposed

Nowruz, or “new day” in Persian, is an ancient celebration and the most important date in the calendar when families gather and exchange gifts. But the coronavirus has overshadowed the celebrations.

“Last year was a tumultuous year for the Iranian nation,” Khamenei said. “It was a year that began with the floods and that ended with the coronavirus… but we will overcome all hardships with unity.”

He named the new year: “The year of boosting production.”

In a separate message, President Hassan Rouhani said Iranians praised doctors and nurses for their courage in fighting the disease.

Millions of Iranians are now confined within their own walls for the New Year celebrations. But police said many defied warnings by health officials to stay home and avoid crowds by heading to the Caspian coast, a favourite destination during the Nowruz holidays.

The United States sent Iran a blunt message this week: the spread of the coronavirus will not save it from U.S. sanctions that are choking off its oil revenues and isolating its economy.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted to the US warning by saying on Twitter: