Iraq Health Ministry Accused of Failing to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine

A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)
A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)
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Iraq Health Ministry Accused of Failing to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine

A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)
A member of the Iraqi civil defense disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad. (AFP)

A decision by Iraq’s Higher Committee for Health and National Safety to impose a new lockdown in the country over the coronavirus pandemic has sparked popular outrage.

Some people interpreted the move as an attempt by authorities to avoid the health crisis instead of confronting it through practical means, such as providing vaccines to the people.

The authorities have so far failed to procure vaccines.

Others have slammed the lockdown, saying it will compound poverty and economic hardships.

On Sunday, the health ministry recorded 2,224 new coronavirus cases, raising the tally to 643,852, including 13,179 deaths.

According to the World Health Organizations, Iraq is one of the most affected Arab and Middle Eastern countries by the pandemic.

The committee, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, approved on Saturday a package of health restrictions, including reimposing full night curfew to face the recent alarming rise in coronavirus cases.

Mosques and prayer halls will be closed, opening only at prayer times to raise the call for prayer.

All funeral venues, wedding halls and parks will also be shut, announced the committee, warning that a fine of 25,000 IQD will be imposed against violators.

Public and private schools, institutes, and universities will hold their classes online, starting February 18.

It said that beauty parlors will be closed for a period of two weeks.

The decision exempts personnel of the Ministry of Health, security forces, service departments and vegetable stores.

For the first time, the new decision imposes fines of up to five million Iraqi dinars on cafes, restaurants and parks that violate the health measures and the lockdown.

The parliamentary health committee had previously expected the arrival of the first batch of coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer or other sources to Iraq in late February or early March.



Iran Seeks to Turn ‘New Page’ in Ties with Lebanon

 In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
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Iran Seeks to Turn ‘New Page’ in Ties with Lebanon

 In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)
In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Lebanese officials on Tuesday that Iran wanted to turn a "new page" in relations with Beirut, hinting at a shift in diplomatic ties that were long grounded in supporting Tehran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah was once a powerful armed movement and political party with sway over Lebanon's state, but it was severely weakened by Israel's bombing campaign last year. Since then, Lebanon's army commander was elected president and a new cabinet with curtailed influence for Hezbollah and its allies took power.

Araqchi's one-day trip to Beirut on Tuesday was his first since February, when he attended the funeral of Hezbollah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, killed in Israeli air strikes in September.

Araqchi told both Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi that he wanted to "turn a new page" in Iran's ties with Lebanon, according to statements by Salam and Raggi's offices.

"Araqchi affirmed his country's keenness to open a new page in bilateral relations with Lebanon, based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," Salam's office said. Araqchi also extended a formal invitation for Salam to visit Iran.

The statement from Raggi's office said the pair had a "frank and direct discussion," including on establishing the state's monopoly on the use of arms - an apparent reference to possible negotiations on the future of Hezbollah's arsenal.

The top Iranian diplomat briefly addressed reporters on Tuesday after meeting with Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is a key Hezbollah ally. Unlike previous addresses by Iranian diplomats, his comments did not mention Hezbollah.

The visit followed several turbulent episodes in ties between the two countries.

Lebanon's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to Beirut in April over comments alleging that plans to disarm Hezbollah were a "conspiracy".

Last year, then-Prime Minister Najib Mikati also issued a rare rebuke of Iran for "interfering" in internal Lebanese affairs.

In February, Iran blocked Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Tehran after Lebanon said it would not allow Iranian aircraft to land in Beirut because of Israel's threats that it would bomb the planes.