Coronavirus: US secretary of state accuses Iran’s supreme leader of lying about outbreak

In a loaded statement, Mike Pompeo accused what he called Iran’s ‘chief terror airline’ of bringing the virus into the Islamic Republic

It followed a televised address on Sunday in which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the US as ‘charlatans’ and rejected American help

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:44pm, 23 Mar 2020Updated: 11:36pm, 23 Mar 2020

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday accused Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of lying about the coronavirus pandemic as the supreme leader rejected US assistance for his hard-hit country.

In a televised address on Sunday, Khamenei described the United States as “charlatans” and charged that Washington could bring in a drug to keep the virus alive.

“Who in their right mind would trust you to bring them medication?” Khamenei said. “Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus more.”

Pompeo in a statement also used loaded language, accusing “Iran’s chief terror airline” Mahan Air of bringing in what he called the “Wuhan virus” through its continued flights to China.

“The regime continues to lie to the Iranian people and the world about the number of cases and deaths, which are unfortunately far higher than the regime admits,” Pompeo said.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a televised speech. Photo: Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/DPA