THREAD: 1/N
Calling to “end” sanctions on Iran to fight Covid-19 is totally misguided, and as flawed as the administration keeping sanctions as is.
I'll discuss why, what happened in Iran, and what could be done instead
Calling to “end” sanctions on Iran to fight Covid-19 is totally misguided, and as flawed as the administration keeping sanctions as is.
I'll discuss why, what happened in Iran, and what could be done instead
2/N
Iran is one of the epicenters. Official death toll passed 2,000, but it’s believed to be significantly far higher. The epidemic could result in millions of deaths.
But what exacerbated the crisis?
Iran is one of the epicenters. Official death toll passed 2,000, but it’s believed to be significantly far higher. The epidemic could result in millions of deaths.
But what exacerbated the crisis?
3/N
The Iranian regime isolated and weakened its own health sector way before the current sanctions. These two Iranian doctors offer a closer look by sharing their own story:
nytimes.com/2020/03/06/opi…
The Iranian regime isolated and weakened its own health sector way before the current sanctions. These two Iranian doctors offer a closer look by sharing their own story:
nytimes.com/2020/03/06/opi…
4/N
Direct reasons that exacerbated the crisis in Iran:
- Iranian leadership downplayed the crisis.
- They encouraged people NOT to quarantine.
- They covered up the real numbers.
bbc.com/news/world-mid…
Direct reasons that exacerbated the crisis in Iran:
- Iranian leadership downplayed the crisis.
- They encouraged people NOT to quarantine.
- They covered up the real numbers.
bbc.com/news/world-mid…
5/N
More reasons: Qom is an important pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims (≈22 million visitors a year). Instead of quarantining Qom, reps of the Supreme Leader campaigned for pilgrims to keep on visiting.
@MaysamBehravesh analyzes the gov response: foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/24/how…
More reasons: Qom is an important pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims (≈22 million visitors a year). Instead of quarantining Qom, reps of the Supreme Leader campaigned for pilgrims to keep on visiting.
@MaysamBehravesh analyzes the gov response: foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/24/how…
6/N
Until now, the Iranian gov is not focusing on the the response as it should, or dedicating its resources to slow down Covid-19. Check this video via @AlinejadMasih:
Until now, the Iranian gov is not focusing on the the response as it should, or dedicating its resources to slow down Covid-19. Check this video via @AlinejadMasih:
7/N
Do sanctions worsen the situation? Of course they do.
"Iran can’t afford to halt its economy and enforce a complete lockdown" @nargesbajoghli & @MahsaRouhi explain how:
nytimes.com/2020/03/24/opi…
Do sanctions worsen the situation? Of course they do.
"Iran can’t afford to halt its economy and enforce a complete lockdown" @nargesbajoghli & @MahsaRouhi explain how:
nytimes.com/2020/03/24/opi…
8/N
So does the Iranian regime want help from the US? Well, the Supreme Leader rejected it already, and accused the US of creating the virus.
"Our number one enemy is America" said Khamenei.
reuters.com/article/us-hea…
So does the Iranian regime want help from the US? Well, the Supreme Leader rejected it already, and accused the US of creating the virus.
"Our number one enemy is America" said Khamenei.
reuters.com/article/us-hea…
9/N
Khamenei said the US might both be behind the virus and also have deliberately designed it to target the genetic pool of Iranians. @AlexVatanka explains why:
Khamenei said the US might both be behind the virus and also have deliberately designed it to target the genetic pool of Iranians. @AlexVatanka explains why:
10/N
So the Iranian regime doesn't want help from the US, how about help from INGOs? Yesterday, Iran put a stop to @MSF.
msf.org/msf-surprised-…
So the Iranian regime doesn't want help from the US, how about help from INGOs? Yesterday, Iran put a stop to @MSF.
msf.org/msf-surprised-…
11/N
Main reason behind the delay in responding to Covid-19: officials were worried about turnout in the parliamentary elections. As @jrezaian puts it "authorities prioritized their political concerns over the risk of the virus spreading"
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
Main reason behind the delay in responding to Covid-19: officials were worried about turnout in the parliamentary elections. As @jrezaian puts it "authorities prioritized their political concerns over the risk of the virus spreading"
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
12/N
The Iranian regime is is directly responsible of letting the outbreak reaches this level. But what could be done to help the Iranian people. @yarbatman offers three practical steps:
The Iranian regime is is directly responsible of letting the outbreak reaches this level. But what could be done to help the Iranian people. @yarbatman offers three practical steps:
13/N
Part of the sanctions should be eased, immediately, to help the Iranian ppl. However, and based on the facts above, the regime can't be trusted. We should emphasize on the points below by @mbachelet to make sure the desired results could be achieved
ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/…
Part of the sanctions should be eased, immediately, to help the Iranian ppl. However, and based on the facts above, the regime can't be trusted. We should emphasize on the points below by @mbachelet to make sure the desired results could be achieved
ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/…
14/N
Calling to "end" sanctions, unconditionally, and with nothing in return, doesn't help the Iranian people, the region, or the U.S. Instead, part of the sanctions should be eased to fight Covid-19, while we keep the end goal in mind— to hold the Iranian regime responsible.
Calling to "end" sanctions, unconditionally, and with nothing in return, doesn't help the Iranian people, the region, or the U.S. Instead, part of the sanctions should be eased to fight Covid-19, while we keep the end goal in mind— to hold the Iranian regime responsible.
15/15
Authoritarian regimes hold their own populations hostage. You let those regimes walk away with their crimes, they oppress their people further.
Nuanced policies are the only way to help the people, while keep pressuring the regimes and hold them accountable.
*END*
Authoritarian regimes hold their own populations hostage. You let those regimes walk away with their crimes, they oppress their people further.
Nuanced policies are the only way to help the people, while keep pressuring the regimes and hold them accountable.
*END*
