Iran’s Covid-19 Fight: Domestic and External Implications

Abstract Iran has been one of the most seriously hit victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its fight against the virus is one critical part of the global fight against the disease. The internal and external implications of the fight are very complicated, and some of them are already visible, though these implications depend on how soon and how effectively Iran finally brings the disease under control. Iran is economically in a very serious situation due to covid-19 and domestic and international shutdowns. But compared with other major oil producers, Iran could potentially be less affected by the global depression as sanctions had already made it less dependent on oil revenue. Furthermore Iran might become a centre of production of medical materials and facilities. Politically, the virus fight has created an opportunity for the temporary soft landing of the political tensions as a result of a series of accidents in the last two years and particularly in the first two months of 2020, though the crisis did produce new political pressures. The pandemic has also produced opportunities for Iran to temporarily improve its neighbouring security environment and its standing in the nuclear issue by criticising inhumane US sanctions. Finally, the fight against the virus has witnessed the joint efforts of Iran and China, which has contributed to a maturing of the Iran-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.