page_title: Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic
section_title: Iran
hierarchical_section_title: Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic / Government / Iran
caption_attribution_description: English: Ali Khamenei in 2020 Tehran Friday Prayer فارسی: آیت الله سید علی خامنه ای در نماز جمعه 27 دی 1398 تهران
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in misinformation and conspiracy theories about the scale of the pandemic and the origin, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. False information, including intentional disinformation, has been spread through social media, text messaging, and mass media, including the tabloid media, conservative media, and state media of countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan. It has also been reportedly spread by covert operations backed by states such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and China to generate panic and sow distrust in other countries. In some countries, such as India, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, journalists have been arrested for allegedly spreading fake news about the pandemic.
  Misinformation has been propagated by celebrities, politicians, and other prominent public figures. Commercial scams have claimed to offer at-home tests, supposed preventives, and "miracle" cures. Several religious groups have claimed their faith will protect them from the virus.
context_section_description: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US created "a special version" of the virus that is "specifically built for Iran using the genetic data of Iranians which they have obtained through different means".
  Bahrain accused Iran of "biological aggression that is criminalised by international law" by lying about the extent of the outbreak in Iran.
caption: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested the US government was responsible for the spread of coronavirus.
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