MP Massoumeh Aghapur Alishahi: one of Iran’s political elite who have contracted Coronavirus

Iran’s regime has changed its line on Coronavirus, declaring that the illness is serious and must be confronted.

Last Sunday, the Supreme Leader tried to cover up a historically-low turnout in Parliamentary elections by proclaiming a “Western plot” to scare Iranians over the illness. As late as Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani announced an American conspiracy to “spread tremendous fear” and proclaimed, “The virus is being controlled.”

But on Saturday, Rouhani told the Emir of Qatar in a phone call that Iran was eager “to develop our bilateral and regional health cooperation with all countries in the region”.

The President said the Health Ministry “has developed special plans for controlling the outbreak of the virus” and the Islamic Republic is “implementing special health protocols in its trade and exports” and for the travel of airline passengers.

Rouhani also told Russian President Vladimir Putin, “We are ready for quick implementation of health protocols between the two countries in fighting the virus.”

Virus Spreads Among Elite

Rouhani’s calls came after the Health Ministry raised the official death toll to 43 and acknowledged 593 cases, while denying a BBC Persian report that at least 210 people have perished.

More members of the elite have confirmed that they are ill.

Among them is the brother of the Supreme Leader’s daughter-in-law. Farideddin Haddad Adel tweeted Saturday morning that he has contracted the virus, trying to minimize the news by adding a laughing emoji.

Haddad Adel is the son of Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, one of Ayatallah Khamenei’s senior advisors and a leading conservative politician.

Reports are circulating that Mohammad Ali Ramezani, who won a seat in Parliamentary elections on February 21, died on Saturday. Mohammad Ali Vakili, an MP for Tehran, said four other legislators have tested positive.

MP Massoumeh Aghapur Alishahi said on Saturday that she contracted the virus while attending a session of the Majlis.

Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said on Monday night that he is ill, only hours after telling a press conference that he would resign if the death toll was more than 12.

Vice President Massoumeh Ebtekar announced her illness on Thursday. She has been photographed in her hospital bed, surrounded by a dozen Government officials.

Ayatollah Hadi Khosroshahi, Iran’s former ambassador to Vatican, is among the dead.

Rouhani reiterated on Thursday that there would be no quarantines because they would bow to “enemies’ plots to spread fear…and close down the country”. However, reporters said on Saturday that the Government is considering control of people’s travel out of the holy city of Qom, the initial center of the outbreak.