Financial Tribune:   A number of unnamed petrochemical company managers in Mahshahr Spe­cial Petrochemical Economic Zone in Khuzestan Province have been charged with violating en­vironmental standards and will be in the dock soon, head of the provincial Department of En­vi­ron­ment said. “The senior officials are accused of endangering public health and lives by pollu­ting the soil and water supplies in the region,” Iraj Soleimani was quoted as saying by IRNA. The names of the accused will be made public after they the court finds them guilty for breaching en­vironmental rules, he said. The managers had been warned on several occasions to respect eco­logical rules but had failed to comply.

“Petrochemical firms were given specific guidelines on how to dispose toxic waste. However, pro­blems lingered and the provincial DoE office filed lawsuits against those who were in breach.” Highlighting the role and significance of human health issues, he said a special com­mit­tee has been set up to deal with the chronic problems. The official admitted that challenging oil companies and other major industries (supported by powerful lobbies and vested interests) over ecological issues is not an easy enterprise. Mahshahr’s DOE chief urged the media and en­vironmentalists to help and do their share in helping protect the environment because the “DOE alone cannot do much.”

“Heavy metals (lead, mercury and arsenic) have been found in fish in the area indicating ex­po­sure to high pollution.” Known as a key industrial region, Mahshahr is home to expansive petro­chemical and oil processing facilities.

Financial Tribune:   The extended closure comes, as businesses are suffering massive financial losses

The National Coronavirus Headquarters has once again extended by one more week the shut­down of all non-essential businesses, i.e. Group II, III and IV of jobs in the high-risk red and ora­n­ge zones for coronavirus transmission, the head of Tehran’s Chamber of Guilds said on Fri­day. 

“Tehran’s Grand Bazaar will also remain closed for another week starting Saturday, May 1, to Friday, May 7, to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections,” Qasem Noudeh-Farahani was also quoted as saying by IRNA. 

Notably, only businesses categorized as Group I, including bakeries, supermarkets, grocery sto­res, car shops, chain stores, health and treatment centers, pharmacies, factories, transportation companies, public parking garages, post offices, internet service providers, press, nursery ho­mes and print shops are allowed to provide essential goods and services. 

Financial Tribune:   Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and shopping malls are among business places to open as of May 8 after a month of closure

The National Coronavirus Headquarters has agreed that restrictions imposed on Group II of jobs in the high-risk red and orange zones for coronavirus transmission, including Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and shopping malls, should be relaxed.  According to Qasem Noudeh-Farahani, the head of Tehran Chamber of Guilds, Group I and II will reopen as of May 8 but Group III and IV will remain closed until May 18.  “Businesses violating the coronavirus containment measures will be subject to governmental orders requiring closure of their locations for up to three weeks,” he was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency. 

All businesses, except those providing essential goods and services (the so-called Group I of jobs, namely bakeries, supermarkets, grocery stores, car shops, chain stores, health and treat­ment centers, pharmacies, factories, transportation companies, public parking garages, post offices, internet service providers, press, nursery homes and print shops) were closed over the past month. 

Iran Daily:   The closure of Tehran Grand bazaar as well as less essential and nonessential bu­si­nesses, categorized as group two, three and four, in the Iranian capital has been extended for another week ending April 30, said the head of Tehran Chamber of Guilds.

Speaking to IRNA on Thursday, Qassem Nodeh-Farahani added based on a decision by the Na­ti­o­nal Task Force for Fighting the Coronavirus, businesses in groups two, three and four in Iranian cities coded red (very high-risk) and orange (high-risk) are in no way allowed to be operating, as was the case in the previous weeks, to dull the edges of a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pande­mic which has been unleashed in the country since a few weeks ago, IRNA reported. He noted that as in the previous weeks, the group one businesses (essential ones) in Tehran will be able to continue their activities while observing the health protocols.

Warning against any laxity in observing the health protocols, Nodeh-Farahani said if any viola­ti­on is reported or seen, the respective business will be shut down. As per a decision by the Nati­o­nal Task Force for Fighting the Coronavirus, since April 10, Iranian red and orange cities ente­r­ed an initially two-week-long partial lockdown to control the fourth wave of COVID-19 infecti­ons, which has led to a spike in the number of daily infections, deaths and hospitalizations, ac­cording to ISNA. This was announced by the task force’s spokesman, Alireza Raeisi.

Under the partial lockdown, a number of restrictions have been imposed such as travel bans, closure of businesses and public places and limiting public gatherings. Prior to the imposition of the lockdown, Tehran’s Governor Anoushirvan Mohseni said businesses, schools and gathering places would close down in the Iranian capital as part of the restrictions, according to Press TV.

Mohseni said a handful of businesses and government departments whose services are deem­ed necessary for the daily lives of more than eight million inhabitants of the city would remain open during the partial lockdown. The governor said closures would affect theaters, cinemas, sport centers and public gatherings.  …   …   …