Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that no wise person could ever think of accepting aid offers from the US which he said is accused of engineering the coronavirus.
Iran is among the most affected countries from the deadly Coronavirus. According to official figures, the pandemic has killed 1,685 people while 21,683 people were infected. Many experts and opposition sources, however, argue that the real tally is much higher, and the regime is hiding the truth.
According to opposition sources, the virus has spread to 201 cities and killed 8,800 people, of which over 1,300 are said to be from the Qom city alone. The pandemic has reportedly killed 900 people in Gilan province, 180 in Kurdistan province (a part of East Kurdistan, Rojhilat), 420 in Gulistan, 310 in Khuzestan province, 200 in Markazi and 60 in Kerman.
As the country is going through an uncontrolled state of affairs against the pandemic, supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation on Sunday and highlighted the claims that the virus was created by the US.
According to IRNA, Khamenei stressed Iran's capabilities in coping with problems and challenges in all levels, suggesting that Iran should identify domestic potential and employ all motivated and young experts.
Referring to the false offers of medical assistance to Iran by some US officials, the Supreme Leader termed them as "one of those strange remarks".
Addressing the US officials, he said: "First of all, you are facing shortages yourselves. If you have enough (equipment), use them for yourselves. You are under accusations that you have created this virus. We do have enemies but the most evil of them is the US."
Khamanei said; “You're accused of having created Coronavirus. I don't know how true it is. But when there's such an allegation, can a wise man trust you? You could be giving medicines that spread the virus or cause it to remain. Experience shows you can’t be trusted and you do such things."
On the other hand, IRNA reported that Iran has received China’s anti-coronavirus donations. The IRNA report said that two planes carrying China donations including 64 tons of face-masks and scrubs arrived in Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on Sunday.
Managing director of Iran's Ministry of Mine, Industry and Trade for commercial services Mohammad Ghebleh said the shipment consisted of 2 million N-95 masks, 5 million three-layer masks and 200,000 scrubs.He noted that another consignment will also arrive in Iran tonight. The shipment will be distributed in Iranian Health Ministry and University of Medical Sciences, he added.
