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Ayatollah’s American Allies Seize on Pandemic in Fresh Push for Sanctions Relief
by Adam Kredo
March 19, 2020

The architects of the Obama administration’s self-described pro-Iran echo chamber have used the coronavirus outbreak to argue that U.S. sanctions are to blame for the virus’s aggressive spread across the Islamic Republic—a line the Iranian government is also peddling. Former Obama officials and their allies have argued that the United States is depriving Iranian citizens of much-needed food and medical supplies by continuing to impose sanctions as the coronavirus has devastated the country. Trump administration officials say, however, that humanitarian channels have remained open to Iran since before the virus erupted. READ MORE

THE HILL Seth J. Frantzman: Cornered by coronavirus, Iran could lash out The picture that emerges is an Iran on edge and a precarious position for U.S. forces in Iraq. Iran has watched the U.S. drawdown of forces in Afghanistan and is eager to pressure the U.S. in Iraq. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Iranian regime may be more emboldened and beholden to its more militarist elements in the IRGC.  Iran still wants to avenge the U.S. killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, and Iran claims the “countdown” to U.S. withdrawal from Iraq has begun.