Jordan Expected to Ease Lockdown Measures

Sterilization of a mosque in the Jordanian capital before reopening the places of worship (AFP)
Sterilization of a mosque in the Jordanian capital before reopening the places of worship (AFP)
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Jordan Expected to Ease Lockdown Measures

Sterilization of a mosque in the Jordanian capital before reopening the places of worship (AFP)
Sterilization of a mosque in the Jordanian capital before reopening the places of worship (AFP)

Decisions to return to normal life in the various economic sectors are expected to be issued in Jordan, Asharq Al-Awsat learned from government sources.

The government eased some of the lockdown measures it has taken since mid-March and started opening the closed governorates and allowing people to move freely.

It has earlier reduced the hours of the partial curfew, on the eve of a decision expected to reopen restaurants and cafes with specific limitations early next week.

The decision will allow citizens to move from 8 am till 10 pm, sources affirmed, adding that the government is considering limiting the hours of the partial curfew to the dawn.

This comes in parallel with the decision to allow tourist restaurants to resume their work and receive customers and reopen the closed governorates, in preparation to resume the internal tourism activity.

The Kingdom has also announced lifting a ban on prayers in mosques and churches starting Friday, June 5, in light of preventive measures announced by the government, which stressed on people to adhere to.

Jordan in on the verge of an important stage of a breakthrough, Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz tweeted on Tuesday.

He affirmed that the government will take systematic procedures and standards it will soon announce.

Various economic sectors have demanded their return to work under strict health conditions and preventive measures overseen by health authorities. These include restaurants and cafes, provided that they commit to operating only 50 percent of its area to ensure applying social distancing policies.

On Tuesday, nine new coronavirus cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the health crisis to 757. Among these are 146 cases that are still receiving treatment.

The government, meanwhile, continues to implement partial bans in the kingdom, the closure of governorates, disruption of universities and schools, and a reduction in the percentage of employees working in the public sector.



Iran Rejects Accusations it Interfered in Syria

Women smoke a water pipe as they sit on a lookout area at the mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Women smoke a water pipe as they sit on a lookout area at the mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
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Iran Rejects Accusations it Interfered in Syria

Women smoke a water pipe as they sit on a lookout area at the mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Women smoke a water pipe as they sit on a lookout area at the mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday expressed “concern” over “the spread of chaos and violence” in Syria and rejected accusations that Tehran interfered in Syria, after the new Syrian foreign minister told Tehran not to spread chaos in his country.
"We reject the baseless accusations by some media ... against Iran over interfering in Syria's internal affairs," Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted as saying by state media.
"It is necessary to prevent the spread of insecurity and violence ... and ensure the security of Syrian citizens," he added.

Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, said on Tuesday that Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and Syria's sovereignty and security.

"We warn them against spreading chaos in Syria and we hold them accountable for the repercussions of the latest remarks," he said.

On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Syrian youth to "stand with firm determination against those who have orchestrated and brought about this insecurity.”

Khamenei forecast "that a strong and honorable group will also emerge in Syria because today Syrian youth have nothing to lose,” calling the country unsafe.

The former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohsen Rezaee, said that the Syrian people “will not remain silent in the face of foreign occupation and aggression” or “the tyranny of an internal group.”

He added: "They will revive the resistance in Syria in a new form in less than a year."

"They will fail the malicious and deceptive plan led by America, the Zionist entity, and the regional countries that have been manipulated,” he added.