I get lots of encouraging messages - thank you all. Occasionally some accuse me of being a paid mercenary, spreading fear or having agendas - especially with my recent threads on the 2nd wave.
My only answer: don't shoot the messenger 🔫🛑. I only re-report official news (with links) or verified reports and have spared you much of my predictions. Feel free to ignore, block, etc. I have but to carry on - it has become my duty now.
ICYMI I had an analysis on the 2nd wave in Iran. TL;DR: after removing lockdown measures, it takes longer than a couple of weeks for the 2nd wave to be established. Remember the puzzle of lily growth in the pool.
2nd wave has established in virtually all 31 provinces - including ones which had a tough 1st wave. Some are in dire situation (Khuzestan, Hormozgan), some are at manageable but severe level and others just show consistent rise of the daily cases.
Along with the established 2nd wave, casualty among medical staff and Iranian officials are rising too - something that had been slowed considerably until recently.
Reports of deaths among mid-ranking police forces, this one: Mehdi Mombeini in Ahvaz, Khuzestan.
MP to Kerman has now been hospitalised with #COVID19
Dr. Sabbaqian working in #COVID19 hotspot Ahvaz, Khuzestan, has died of the disease.
#IMPORTANT Shirin Safavi, a nurse in Tehran has died of #COVID19 (reported earlier). But it is reported that she contracted the virus, fully recovered, then her sister got it and she started nursing her thinking she was immune. She died (then her sister).
I have tried to verify the re-infection aspect and establish whether the first episode had been confirmed by testing... I was not successful to enquire this level of information but her colleagues stress this was due to re-infection.
More reports from Golestan province (1.9M) arriving that the disease is quickly becoming a serious threat. Just in two cities of this province there are 34 children hospitalised due to #COVID19.
In fact reports from Shooshtar (102K), Khuzestan (4.7M), suggests that there is a meaningful rise in the younger population. Whether this is due to a different strand or simply a sign of widespread outbreak is unclear.
While officials talk of a 20-fold rise in COVID cases in Khuzestan with 600-700 daily cases, Ahvaz (1.2) the capital has been declared Yellow, downgrading from Red. Will carry on monitoring the situation.
This downgrading of Ahvaz is in a situation where health officials are considering adding another two hospitals in addition to current 6 hospitals dedicated to #COVID19 patients.
Meanwhile in other parts of Khuzestan, Ganjavian Hospital in Dezful (265K) dedicated to COVID is now full. Also ICU in Shooshtar (102K) hospital is full and 70% of beds are dedicated to #COVID19.
While authorities warn that they could bring back the lockdown, they have done little. In Hormozgan (1.8K), one of the worst affected provinces during the 2nd wave, authorities said Thursdays closed in addition to Fridays. Most business/offices already are
Dr Zali, head of the COVID Taskforce in Tehran says observance of social distancing has reached its lowest levels [<10%] and the public are sick and tired of it [there are economic reasons for it too]
OK will leave you with the this news: the price of illicit drugs such as meth has gone up considerably after COVID - potentially disrupting the supply chain.
It then, however, turned out to be the work of Islamic Republic's own intelligence ministry. They finally accepted that an "autonomous cell" within the ministry led by Saied Emami had gone rogue and planned and executed the attack.
With that in the back of Iranian minds, terrorist attack on Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz was immediately dismissed as the work of the Islamic Republic itself, especially considering the timing (protests).
But it is undeniable that ISIS has claimed responsibility and released 👇
Today, dozens of cities around the world will witness human chains of Iranians extending for miles.
This has been planned for London too, sadly I do not feel well enough to go.
After weeks and weeks of reactive handling of the protests in the hope of them fizzling out, today the regime is planning to use today's burial procession of Shiraz terrorist attack victims to take the initiative back again.
IRGC Commander again declared the end of protests.
As you can see from the images above, even for a neutral event where everyone would condemn such cowardly terrorist attack (and I do too), the regime failed to bring masses to the street.
Believe me I chose busiest pics, check them for yourself.
#BREAKING The country is in turmoil and it feels like the regime is losing the grip - which is not necessarily good news since this might mean we enter a military phase.
People are reported to be in control of Town of Mahabad in Kurdistan
Funny thing is that taghvim.com website used commonly by Iranians says today is 30th of Rabi al-Awwal. All other calendars say today is 1st of Rabi-ali-Thaani.
It cannot be ISIS!
My Arab followers, can you please tell me what day it is according to Hijri calendar?
Some calendars I found say 28th, some 29th, some 1st ...
#IranProtests2022 5th week of incessant protests (29th day) starting today with reports of ongoing protests in Karaj, Rashst, Hamedan and Shahinshahr.
It is 1:30 PM local time.
This is students today in Sanandaj.
In Ardabil where a high school student was allegedly beaten to death (we have not yet been able to confirm or disprove) protesters have clashed with the security forces.