Leader Hails Iranian Health Professionals’ Brilliant Performance in Combating COVID-19

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei lauded the Iranian health professionals for their brilliant performance in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

The Leader met members of the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus on Saturday.

The following are excerpts of the statements His Eminence made at this meeting, according to Khamenei.ir:

"The goal of this meeting, arranged at the President’s invitation, is to address the regretful situation of COVID-19 in the country and the need for increased efforts and new initiatives to combat this virus. Of course, a fall resurgence in COVID-19 is happening all over the world.

"In some countries like the US, they have had terrible management in facing COVID-19 But we should try to overcome this pandemic, which is affecting people’s lives, health, security, and economy, with the best form of management.

"We stress the need for unity and internal harmony within the country. Certain recent measures to denigrate the administration and President Hassan Rouhani were wrongful; I declare this firmly. Criticism is different from denigrating, and denigrating is religiously forbidden.

"It’s alright to criticize but this is different from insulting and denigrating. Denigrating is the US’s way in debates, etc. They have disgraced themselves in the world to the extent that a prominent American political figure said the world is watching the US in horror and scorn.

"My recommendations for combating this new phase of COVID-19:

1. The urgent launching of a base of operation to execute decisions made by the National Committee on Combating COVID-19.
2. The Health Ministry being the prime decision-maker of limitations.
3. Meticulous monitoring of country’s entry points, limiting needless travel between cities, convincing people and strict enforcement of regulations.
4. Public education on virus spread and prevention, using local resources such as mosques and the Basij.
5. Strict punishment of offenders.

"The health professionals’ performance in combating COVID-19 has been extremely brilliant and is Jihad on the path of God. I also sincerely and wholeheartedly appreciate the researchers’ efforts to develop new medicines and a vaccine for fighting COVID-19.

"Some people who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 do not receive unemployment insurance. The Social Welfare Organization is responsible to take action to resolve this problem."