Sanctions-battered Iran, weary of pandemic, faces worst wave

Hospital workers move two bodies of patients who died from COVID-19, at the yard of the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Cemetery workers lay cinder-block rows of new graves at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery on the outskirts of the Iranian capital, Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A COVID-19 patient is treated in the ICU unit of the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 17, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A nurse tends to a patient affected by COVID-19 at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 17, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A heart-shaped balloon and a bouquet of roses adorn the bed of a man who died from COVID-19 at the ICU unit of the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Mourners pray over the body of a person who died from COVID-19 virus at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

The body of a man who died from COVID-19 is prepared for a burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

The body of a man who died from COVID-19 is prepared for a burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Mourners carry the body of a person who died from COVID-19 for burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A nurse tends to COVID-19 patient at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A nurse tends to a patient affected by the COVID-19 virus at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 17, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, Iranian authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A nurse tends to a patient affected by the COVID-19 virus at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 17, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, Iranian authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A cemetery worker move the body of a person who died from COVID-19 for a funeral, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Cemetery workers the prepare the body of a person who died from COVID-19 for a funeral, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Relatives mourn over the body of a person who died from COVID-19, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A hospital worker moves the body of a patient who died from COVID-19, at the morgue of the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Relatives mourn over the body of a person who died from COVID-19, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Mourners attend the funeral of a person who died from COVID-19, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Cemetery workers prepare bodies of the people who died from COVID-19 for a burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A COVID-19 patient is treated at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Cemetery workers prepare the bodies of people who died from COVID-19 for burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Medical personnel tend to a COVID-19 patient at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 17, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

COVID-19 patients are treated at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 17, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A cemetery worker prepares the body of a person who died from COVID-19 for burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A cemetery worker prepares the body of a person who died from COVID-19, for burial at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A nurse tends to a COVID-19 patient, at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, Iranian authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A nurse tends to a patient affected by COVID-19, at the Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 18, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Cemetery workers prepare the body of a person who died from COVID-19 for burial, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Mourners carry the body of a person who died from COVID-19, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, Iranian authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Mourners pray over the body of a person who died from COVID-19, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. After facing criticism for downplaying the virus last year, authorities have put partial lockdowns and other measures in place to try and slow the coronavirus’ spread, as Iran faces what looks like its worst wave of the coronavirus pandemic yet. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)