Iran is fast becoming the new epicenter of the deadly novel coronavirus. It now has the highest number of fatalities due to this virus, second only to China, where the initial outbreak started.

From the outset, the Islamic Republic’s lack of attention and inadequacy in responding to this potential human catastrophe was on full display. The government of President Hassan Rouhani donated 3 million medical grade face masks to China a mere two weeks before the avalanche of new diagnoses and deaths among Iranians.