The State Department announced Friday afternoon the United States of America has sent coronavirus aid to Iran as the death toll in the country continues to skyrocket.
"The United States stands with the people of Iran during the public health crisis caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The U.S. Government is prepared to assist the Iranian people in their response efforts. This offer of support to the Iranian people, which has been formally conveyed to Iran through the Government of Switzerland, underscores our ongoing commitment to address health crises and prevent the spread of infectious diseases," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released in a statement.
"The United States calls on Iran to cooperate fully and transparently with international aid and health organizations. We will continue to work closely with countries in the region to help address unmet needs in response to the virus," he continued.
Iranian regime officials have been censoring conditions on the ground, leading to hundreds of people dying from the virus over the past two weeks.
We at #BBC have learned from our sources in hospitals across #Iran that death tool due to #coronavirus is 210 so far. The official government number stands at 34. https://t.co/gpufaSPG4w
— Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) February 28, 2020
The Iranian deputy health minister has been infected.
2. Today the deputy health minister--who'd "been briefing briefing officials & journalists", presumably without a mask--casually announces he's tested positive. This lack of seriousness and transparency exacerbates the government's legitimacy crisis https://t.co/BAv0QdX1JH
— Karim Sadjadpour (@ksadjadpour) February 25, 2020
Meanwhile, the White House is in negotiations with lawmakers on Capitol Hill over an emergency budget to fight the disease. Vice President Mike Pence has been appointed to oversee a new coronavirus task force, whose members will brief President Trump daily and relay crucial information to the American people.