from NewsTarget

According to NPR, the virus — whatever the actual death toll — is piling on new problems for the Iranian regime following unrest and other societal problems, many of which are tied to U.S. and European sanctions on the country:

Iran has reported 77 deaths from the COVID-19 illness, and 2,336 confirmed cases of infection, as of Tuesday. On Monday, Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a 71-year-old member of a council that advises Iran’s supreme leader, became one of the latest casualties — the first senior official to die from the coronavirus. …

Iranians take pride in their ability to ride out tough times. But during a recent NPR visit to Tehran, public concern over the government’s response to the virus was apparent. The coronavirus outbreak comes at a time when Iran is already reeling from economic woes as the United States imposes tough economic sanctions on the country. Iran’s economy contracted by an estimated 9.5% last year.

Business Insider noted further that, thus far, 8 percent of the Iranian Parliament — 23 of 290 members — has contracted the virus. And as each new infection comes, the country appears to be spiraling even deeper into chaos as it becomes more apparent that the regime’s leaders are simply unable to handle the emergency in a competent manner.

Iranians are already complaining that there are no shops with any supplies such as masks, gloves, or disinfectants. Also, they appear to be very suspicious of the government’s official pronouncements about how things are ‘under control’ when they can see they’re not with their own eyes. (Related: New York Emergency Room Doctor: There Will Be “Thousands” Of Confirmed Cases In The U.S. “By Next Week.”)