Iranian women in Tehran, October 4, 2020 (Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

UPDATE, DEC 27:

Despite a sharp drop in Coronavirus deaths and cases this month, Iranian authorities are extending a night-time traffic curfew to 330 lower-risk cities and towns.

Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the National Coronavirus Task force, said on state TV that the curfew from 9 pm to 4 am will be extended to lower-risk “yellow” areas on Sunday.

The curfew was implemented in “red” and “orange” areas last month, as the Rouhani Government belatedly adopted measures to close businesses and other public spaces.

Authorities said almost 100,000 fines were handed out on one night last week as Iranians celebrated the Yalda holiday.

On Saturday the Health Ministry reported 134 deaths, the lowest daily toll since September 13, and 5,760 new cases, the lowest since October 22. Almost 5,300 patients are in critical condition.

Iran’s official totals are 54,574 deaths and 1,194,953 cases.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, DEC 25: The US Treasury has approved Iran’s transfer of funds from overseas holdings to pay for Coronavirus vaccines.

Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said on Thursday that he has ordered transfer of 200 million Euros ($244 million) for purchase of 16.8 million doses. He explained that the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has approved movement of funds from South Korea to a Swiss bank.

The purchase is from COVAX, a multiagency group seeking fair access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, to which 190 countries have signed up.

The US Government has said that, under comprehensive sanctions imposed by the Trump Administration from November 2018, Tehran may still obtain food and medicines.

However, Iranian leaders say the vital goods are still blocked because of sanctions’ effects on financial transactions.

Split Over Foreign Vaccines

But even as Hemmati made his statement, there was division within the Iranian regime over the purchase of foreign vaccines.

“We do not recommend injecting foreign coronavirus vaccines to the personnel of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij [paramilitary members],” said Mohammed Reza Naqdi, deputy commander of the Guards.

Iran’s Shifa Pharmed began registering volunteers this week for human trials of a domestic COVID-19 vaccine, according to Iranian media.

The Health Ministry reported 132 deaths on Friday, the lowest daily toll since September. There were another 6,021 confirmed cases, about 50% higher than early October but less than half the record toll set in late November. More than 5,300 patients are in critical condition.

The official totals for the pandemic are 54,440 deaths and 1,189,203 cases.

Iran’s toll surged this autumn, as the Government refused to close public spaces amid the country’s economic crisis.
Cities such as the capital Tehran finally implemented measures, and Rouhani finally acted in mid-November with an eight-point plan shutting businesses and other public areas and restricting travel to work in “red zones”.

See also Coronavirus: Iran Daily Deaths at Lowest Point Since Early October