In an effort to combat the Coronavirus, Iran’s top leader will pardon 10,000 more prisoners, state TV reported Thursday.
On the Iranian New Year, called Nowruz, the report quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili as saying that 10,000 prisoners will be granted amnesty under a decree by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In apparent efforts to try to curb the spread of the new virus that has killed more than 1,100 in Iran, the country has already released 85,000 prisoners on temporary leave.
Western nations have urged Iran to release dual nationals and others, alleging they are used as bargaining chips in negotiations.
