Iranian TV Host Slams IRGC General in Charge of Civil Defense for Evading the Issue of Coronavirus and Bio Warfare: You Only Come to the Show When We Couldn't Care Less about What You Have to Say

On a March 7, 2020 broadcast of his show on Channel 5 (Iran), Iranian TV host Mohammad Delavari accepted questions about coronavirus from his viewers through his Instagram account. One of his viewers asked if Iran is a strategic target in a biological war, and Delavari said that this question should be addressed to IRGC General Gholamreza Jalali, the head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, whom he criticized for declining to appear on the show during the coronavirus outbreak because he is "busy," even though he is usually a regular guest. Addressing General Jalali, Delavari said: "When we couldn't care less about your civil defense, you were here all the time, [but] now, when you need to come and tell us what this story is about, you don't have time."

Mohammad Delavari: "Tonight's guest is Dr. Mohammad Hatami, head of the Psychological Association. He is here so we can talk to him and see what can be done these days from a psychological perspective.

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"I asked him on my Instagram account whether you have any questions. You are invited to post your questions, and some of you already have.

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"Mehdi is asking whether Iran is a strategic target in a biological war. This is not a question for the head of the Psychological Association. [IRGC General Gholamreza] Jalali, the head of the Civil Defense Organization, should come here and answer this question. He should tell us whether we have been the targets of a biological attack or not. If this is the case, then what has his organization been doing? If we are not the targets of an attack – then what is the meaning of all these statements about Iran being the target of biological warfare? But Mr. Jalali does not show up. He said: 'I can't come now. I'm busy.' Mr. Jalali, when we couldn't care less about your civil defense, you were here all the time, even though we really have nothing to talk about. You come here to tell us what the definition of civil defense is. But now, when you need to come and tell us what this story is about, you don't have time..."