Iran’s COVID-19 Impacts Iraq, Syria, Lebanon
Iran’s failure to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at home contributed to spread of the virus in the Arab world. Three countries with close ties to Tehran—Iraq, Syria and Lebanon—were hit hard by the pandemic. The governments of Lebanon and Iraq traced their first known cases of coronavirus directly to Iran. Syria did not identify the origin of its outbreak, but the large number of Iranian militiamen and pilgrims in the country hindered the government’s ability to contain the virus. By April 22, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria confirmed hundreds of cases, with additional unconfirmed cases.