On June 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced that Sirous Asgari, a scientist who had been imprisoned in the United States, was on a plane back to Iran. “Congratulations to his wife and his esteemed family,” he wrote on Instagram. Dr. Asgari was indicted in 2016 on charges of stealing trade secrets related to research he had done at Case Western Reserve University in 2012 and 2013. The scientist, an engineer who specializes in metals and materials, had been working on a project for the U.S.

Iranian leaders exploited U.S. unrest over the death of George Floyd—an African American killed in police custody in Minneapolis—to criticize the U.S. government. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the U.S. government of racism against African Americans. “If you're dark-skinned walking in the U.S., you can't be sure you'll be alive in the next few minutes. #ICantBreathe #BlackLivesMatter,” Khamenei tweeted. “Racial discrimination is still a dilemma in a country that claims to support freedom and human rights #Black_Lives_Matter.”

Victims of chemical weapons during Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq have proven to be among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Iran’s doctors and nurses have made heavy sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19. In the first three months of the pandemic, more than 100 healthcare workers died and some 10,000 had been infected.

Iran’s new parliament held its opening session on May 27 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers were required to follow health protocols, but many did not practice social distancing or wear masks. The 268 members of parliament who attended the session had all tested negative for the virus, according to state media. Their temperatures were checked before entering the building. Iran, the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East, recorded 141,591 infections and 7,564 deaths from COVID-19 on the day parliament convened.

On May 19, three experts discussed the intersection of crises for the Islamic Republic, which was one of the original epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus coincided with economic and political challenges that have created a perfect storm for Tehran. Speakers included: 

On May 12, Iran temporarily reopened all mosques for three days during the holy month of Ramadan. Iranians celebrated the nights of Laylat al-Qadr, which commemorates the Quran being revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. Prayer services were held in mosques, public parks and hospitals. Worshippers were required to wear masks and gloves and bring their own prayer mats and copies of the Quran.

On May 16, Iran reopened schools in 130 cities with low infection rates after nearly three months of closure due to COVID-19. Students were required to wear masks and gloves during class. But students were not required to return to school.

On May 19, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned a China-based company for providing services to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline blacklisted in 2011 for supporting the elite Qods Force. Mahan Air has transported fighters, weapons, equipment and funds to support the Syrian regime and Iranian proxies across the Middle East, including Hezbollah. Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited was the seventh company sanctioned for acting as a general sales agent for Mahan Air. “We will not hesitate to target those entities that continue to maintain commercial relationships with Mahan Air,” said Secretary Steven T.

On May 14, the United States alerted the maritime industry to the deceptive shipping practices used by Iran, North Korea and Syria to evade sanctions. The joint advisory, issued by the State Department, the Treasury Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, also provided “best practices” for shippers and insurers to mitigate exposure to sanctions risk.