Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a Cabinet meeting in Tehran. EPA
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a Cabinet meeting in Tehran. EPA
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a Cabinet meeting in Tehran. EPA
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a Cabinet meeting in Tehran. EPA

US sanctions and coronavirus make for Iran's toughest year, Rouhani says

The coronavirus crisis has exacerbated economic problems that worsened after Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal in 2018

Reuters

June 28, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that his country was experiencing its toughest year because of US sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis exacerbated economic problems that worsened after US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 from Iran's nuclear deal with major powers and reimposed sanctions. On Monday, Iran's currency fell to its lowest level against the US dollar.

"It's been the most difficult year due to the enemy's economic pressure and the pandemic," Mr Rouhani said in a televised speech.

"The economic pressure that began in 2018 has increased ... and today it is the toughest pressure on our dear country."

Iran has had a sharp increase in coronavirus infections and deaths since restrictions to stem the spread of the pandemic were gradually lifted from mid-April. The death toll recently topped 100 a day for the first time in two months.

In the previous 24 hours, 2,489 new cases were recorded, taking the total to 222,669, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state television. She said 144 people had died, bringing the total to 10,508.

Mr Rouhani said the wearing of masks will become mandatory for two weeks starting next Sunday in "gathering places" that are deemed "red spots".

Senior officials have regularly given warnings that restrictions will be reimposed if health regulations such as social distancing are not observed.

Iran launched a campaign on Saturday to motivate a reluctant public to use face masks.

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Coronavirus around the world: in pictures

Marisol Aro, wearing a face shield with an image of Wonder Woman, looks out from a car, amid the new coronavirus pandemic in Santiago. AP
Marisol Aro, wearing a face shield with an image of Wonder Woman, looks out from a car, amid the new coronavirus pandemic in Santiago. AP
A man rides past a coronavirus-related mural by urban artists Mick Martinez and "Were Torres" in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico. AFP
A man rides past a coronavirus-related mural by urban artists Mick Martinez and "Were Torres" in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico. AFP
A healthcare worker holds a sample of a nasal swab after testing a passenger at a drive-thru new coronavirus testing site outside a supermarket in Santiago, Chile. AP Photo
A healthcare worker holds a sample of a nasal swab after testing a passenger at a drive-thru new coronavirus testing site outside a supermarket in Santiago, Chile. AP Photo
Medical workers collect a swab sample during community Covid-19 testing in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, Australia. EPA
Medical workers collect a swab sample during community Covid-19 testing in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, Australia. EPA
A worker wearing a protective suit swabs a man's throat for a coronavirus test at a community health clinic in Beijing, Chian. AP Photo
A worker wearing a protective suit swabs a man's throat for a coronavirus test at a community health clinic in Beijing, Chian. AP Photo
Coalition of resort labor unions representing Disney cast members holds a car caravan around Disneyland Resort calling for higher safety standards before its reopening in Anaheim, California, USA. AFP
Coalition of resort labor unions representing Disney cast members holds a car caravan around Disneyland Resort calling for higher safety standards before its reopening in Anaheim, California, USA. AFP
An artisan takes off his face mask, used to combat the spread of the coronavirus, while taking a break behind a fence at the DImitrie Gusti Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania. AP Photo
An artisan takes off his face mask, used to combat the spread of the coronavirus, while taking a break behind a fence at the DImitrie Gusti Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania. AP Photo
Passengers wearing face masks walk near a banner displaying precautions against the coronavirus at the subway station in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
Passengers wearing face masks walk near a banner displaying precautions against the coronavirus at the subway station in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
A waitress takes the temperature of customers as they arrive to eat at Dudley's as restaurants are permitted to offer al fresco dining as part of phase 2 reopening in New York City, USA. Reuters
A waitress takes the temperature of customers as they arrive to eat at Dudley's as restaurants are permitted to offer al fresco dining as part of phase 2 reopening in New York City, USA. Reuters
Staff at Shiva's Signature hair salon wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits and face shields attend customers after personal grooming services were allowed to resume in Mumbai, India. AFP
Staff at Shiva's Signature hair salon wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits and face shields attend customers after personal grooming services were allowed to resume in Mumbai, India. AFP
People wearing masks for protection observe mandatory social distancing against the spread of the coronavirus as they wait in line to cast their votes in Poland's presidential election in Lomianki near Warsaw, Poland. AP Photo
People wearing masks for protection observe mandatory social distancing against the spread of the coronavirus as they wait in line to cast their votes in Poland's presidential election in Lomianki near Warsaw, Poland. AP Photo
Residents stay at their building to curb the spread of ovid-19 in Caracas, Venezuela. AP Photo
Residents stay at their building to curb the spread of ovid-19 in Caracas, Venezuela. AP Photo
Fans attend a live stream of Garth Brooks Concert Event for the Concerts In Your Car Series at Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center. AFP
Fans attend a live stream of Garth Brooks Concert Event for the Concerts In Your Car Series at Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center. AFP
An employee readies the body of a woman who died from the new coronavirus for cremation at La Recoleta crematorium in Santiago, Chile. AP Photo
An employee readies the body of a woman who died from the new coronavirus for cremation at La Recoleta crematorium in Santiago, Chile. AP Photo
Relatives and friends stand near the coffin of a woman, who died of the coronavirus disease, during her funeral at the Xico cemetery in Valle de Chalco, in the State of Mexico, Mexico. Reuters
Relatives and friends stand near the coffin of a woman, who died of the coronavirus disease, during her funeral at the Xico cemetery in Valle de Chalco, in the State of Mexico, Mexico. Reuters
A visitor wears a space suit costume on the pier in Huntington Beach, California, US. AP Photo
A visitor wears a space suit costume on the pier in Huntington Beach, California, US. AP Photo
South Africa World Cup squad

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (w), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.

While you're here
SAUDI RESULTS

Team Team Pederson (-40), Team Kyriacou (-39), Team De Roey (-39), Team Mehmet (-37), Team Pace (-36), Team Dimmock (-33)

Individual E. Pederson (-14), S. Kyriacou (-12), A van Dam (-12), L. Galmes (-12), C. Hull (-9), E. Givens (-8),

G. Hall (-8), Ursula Wikstrom (-7), Johanna Gustavsson (-7)

On Women's Day
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WonderTree%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20April%202016%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Waqas%20and%20Muhammad%20Usman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karachi%2C%20Pakistan%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%2C%20and%20Delaware%2C%20US%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Special%20education%2C%20education%20technology%2C%20assistive%20technology%2C%20augmented%20reality%3Cbr%3EN%3Cstrong%3Eumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowth%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Grants%20from%20the%20Lego%20Foundation%2C%20UAE's%20Anjal%20Z%2C%20Unicef%2C%20Pakistan's%20Ignite%20National%20Technology%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
France and Covid-19
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
On Women's Day
Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Stormy seas

Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.

We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice. 

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes