Iran has blamed US, Israel, Jews for coronavirus: Report
April 5, 2020, 3:49 pm

Iran has blamed US, Israel, Jews for coronavirus: Report

A file photo of American flags being burnt in Iran. (File photo Reuters)

The Iranian regime has been blaming the US and its allies, particularly Israel, for the country’s coronavirus crisis, according to evidence presented in a report from IranWire written by Shaya Lerner and David Andrew Weinberg. Iran

As of Sunday, 3,603 in Iran have died from coronavirus, and there are 58,226 confirmed cases. The Iranian regime has been accused of mishandling its response to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, including deliberately covering up details of the outbreak to maximize turnout in parliamentary elections.

The Islamic Republic’s highest authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had initially said that the coronavirus outbreak is “not that big of a deal.” However, as the outbreak has worsened in the country, high-ranking officials regime officials have since shifted their narrative to blame the US and Israel.

The latest IranWire report highlights the Iranian regime’s various attempts to divert the blame for the outbreak of COVID-19 to the US or Israel.

On March 22, Khamenei said in a speech that Iran will not accept any US aid against coronavirus given it is “accused of producing the virus.”

Khamenei also spoke of “demons” conspiring against Iran on live TV. This part of his speech was omitted from state news agencies.

“There are enemies who are demons, and there are enemies who are humans, and they help one another. The intelligence services of many countries cooperate against us,” Khamenei said.

https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1234835973848084480

Khamenei’s website hosted mid-ranking cleric Ahmad Abedi a few days after the speech to elaborate on what the Supreme Leader meant.

“There is no doubt that the Jews, especially the Zionists, are very much after such supernatural affairs, and are after demon and devil related affairs. Even their spy agencies, like the Mossad, are involved. There is plenty of evidence,” said Abedi as quoted in IranWire.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, accused the US and Israel of being behind the coronavirus outbreak “for-profit” on the same day as Khamenei’s speech.

“It is possible that the Zionist lobby spread a pandemic and created a vaccine for treatment in exchange for immense profit,” the Houthi leader said.

“Some American companies are known to have created a pandemic after preparing a vaccine for it to sell it in very large amounts,” he added.

https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/1243135427151892481

The IranWire report also suggested that “the regime’s propaganda” had spread the “baseless allegation” that coronavirus was the result of a biological attack against Iran.

Iranian lawmaker Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imenabadi was one of the first regime officials to link the coronavirus outbreak to the US and Israel, tweeting: “I consider the coronavirus outbreak a type of biological attack from America and the Zionist regime.”

Hossein Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said in early March that the outbreak may be due to a US “biological attack” on Iran.

Iranian state news agencies and media outlets have also been running dozens of pieces suggesting the US and the “Zionists” are behind the coronavirus outbreak.

At the same time, however, the same media outlets have enthusiastically reported about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Israeli economy and the number of coronavirus cases in the country. levant

source: Yaghoub Fazeli levant

UAE confirms 294 new coronavirus cases, total 1,798 so far Coronavirus: UK minister warns of tough steps on social distancing

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.