Iran cannot fight covid-19 with conspiracy theories

AS COVID-19 BEGANMPThe EconomistThe Economist Today spreading across Iran in February, the regime held a rigged election. Weeks later, when nearly 10% of Iranian s were infected and it was clear the country had a problem, the ruling clerics refused to close crowded holy spots. Even as it dug mass graves, the government hushed up the scale of the epidemic. Now its leaders are propounding conspiracy theories, such as that covid-19 is an American bioweapon. Rejecting an offer of American aid, Iran’s supreme leader said: “Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more.”