As Iran Lifts Its Lockdown, Coronavirus Cases Return to Peak Level

Iran is rolling back coronavirus restrictions as it attempts to revive its battered economy, despite a surge in new infections that has driven daily cases back toward the country’s peak in late March.

Iran locked down much of its economy and closed off religious sites after emerging as the biggest hot spot for the disease in the Middle East in February. As the number of daily cases waned, it began easing some restrictions such as local bazaars and shopping malls in April, followed by restaurants in May.