Iran lets some Tehran businesses reopen after virus lockdown

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran allowed some businesses in capital and nearby towns to re-open Saturday after weeks of lockdown aimed at containing worst coronavirus outbreak in Middle East.

Iran was slow to respond to pandemic and held off on imposing widespre restrictions even after or countries in region with far fewer cases forced most businesses to close. Iran has reported more than 80,000 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths.

Gyms, restaurants, shopping malls and Tehran's grand bazaar will remain closed. Shrines and mosques are also shuttered, and a ban on public garings remains in place. Government offices have reopened with a third of employees working from home, and schools and universities are still closed.

Traffic was heavy in Tehran early Saturday, first day of work week. Authorities allowed businesses outside capital to reopen a week ago.

virus causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms in most patients, who recover within a few weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.

Iran's leers have said y h to consider ecomic consequences of quarantine measures, as country struggles under severe sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump after he withdrew U.S. from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

On Friday, U.N. human rights experts called on Iran to release political prisoners who could be vulnerable to infection inside country's detention facilities. Iran has temporarily released 100,000 prisoners, but is still detaining many dual-nationals convicted on security charges.

“We recognize emergency situation in Islamic Republic of Iran and problems it faces in fighting pandemic, including reported challenges in accessing medical supplies due to sanctions,” UN experts said. “Some are at great risk from COVID-19 due to ir or underlying health conditions. We call on authorities to immediately release m.”

experts highlighted cases of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and defenders Narges Mohammi and Arash Seghi, as well as dual nationals Ahmreza Djalali , an Iranian-Swedish national; Mor Tahbaz, an Iranian-British-American national; and Kamran Gheri and Massud Mossaheb , two Iranian-Austrian nationals.

y said all seven have requested temporary release but have been rejected or t received a response.

Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili denied nationality was a factor in prisoner releases. He was quoted by Hamshahri daily as saying release is denied when it is forbidden by law or when "ir freedom puts our citizens’ social, ecomic and psychological security at risk.”