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U.S. NEWS Thursday 23 april 2020
Iran-US tensions rise on Trump threat, Iran satellite launch

Continued from Front U.S. forces killed Iran’s most Middle East a threat to its Iranians understand what could threaten the U.S.
powerful general, Qassem security. Trump did not cite Trump meant. Asked Using a mobile launcher at
Last Wednesday, the U.S. Soleimani, in January. Iran a specific Iranian provoca- whether the tweet means a new site, the Guard said
Navy reported that 11 responded with a ballistic tion in his tweet or provide a repeat of last week’s in- it put a “Noor,” or “Light,”
Guard naval gunboats had missile attack on a base details. Senior Pentagon of- cident in the Gulf would re- satellite into a low orbit cir-
carried out “dangerous and in western Iraq where U.S. ficials gave no indication quire a lethal U.S. response, cling the Earth. Iranian sta-
harassing approaches” to troops were present. No that Trump had directed a Hyten said, “I would have te TV late Wednesday sho-
American Navy and Coast Americans were killed but fundamental change in mi- to be the captain of the wed footage of what it said
Guard vessels in the Persian more than 100 suffered litary policy on Iran. ship in order to make that was the satellite, and said
Gulf. The Americans used mild traumatic brain injuries “The president issued an determination.” The nature it had orbited the earth
a variety of nonlethal me- from the blasts. important warning to the of the response, he said, within 90 minutes. State TV
ans to warn off the Iranian At the Pentagon on Wed- Iranians,” David Norquist, “depends on the situa- said the satellite’s signals
boats, and they eventually nesday, the vice chairman the deputy secretary of de- tion and what the captain were being received.
left. Such encounters were of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fense, said at a Pentagon sees.” Hyten said it was too soon to
relatively common several Gen. John Hyten, a former news conference when Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a know whether the launch
years ago, but have been commander of American asked about the tweet. spokesman for Iran’s armed had successfully placed a
rare recently. nuclear and space for- “What he was emphasizing forces, accused Trump of satellite in orbit. He said U.S.
Iran said the U.S. was to bla- ces, welcomed Trump’s is, all of our ships retain the “bullying” and said the tracking technology sho-
me for the incident. tweet as a useful warning right of self defense.” Nor- American president should wed that the launch vehi-
Conflict between Iran and to Iran. He drew a parallel quist called the tweet “a focus on caring for U.S. cle had traveled “a very
the U.S. escalated after the between last week’s na- very useful thing.” service members infected long way, which means it
Trump administration wit- val encounter in the Gulf Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia with the coronavirus. The has the ability once again
hdrew from the internatio- and Wednesday’s space Democrat and Navy vete- U.S. military has more than to threaten their neighbors,
nal nuclear deal between launch, which said was ran, said Trump’s tweeting 3,500 confirmed cases of their allies, and we want to
Tehran and world powers in “just another example of could lead to war. coronavirus, and at least make sure they can never
2018 and reimposed crip- Iranian malign behavior.” “The president’s continued two service members have threaten the United States.”
pling sanctions. Last May, “And it goes right along issuing of orders to our mili- succumbed to COVID-19, Secretary of State Mike
the U.S. sent thousands with the harassment from tary via tweet is a threat to the disease the virus cau- Pompeo said the United
more troops, including the fastboats. ... You put our national security and, if ses. Nations needs to evaluate
long-range bombers and those two things together followed without clear gui- The space launch has po- whether the space launch
an aircraft carrier, to the and it’s just more examples dance and rules of enga- tentially bigger implications was consistent with Security
Middle East in response to of Iranian malign behavior gement, will unnecessarily for conflict with Iran. U.S. of- Council resolutions. “I don’t
what it called a growing and misbehavior,” Hyten escalate tensions with Iran ficials believe it is intended think it remotely is, and I
threat of Iranian attacks on said. and possibly lead to all-out- to advance Iran’s develop- think Iran needs to be held
U.S. interests in the region. Iran considers the heavy conflict,” she said. ment of intercontinental- accountable for what it’s
The tensions spiked when U.S. military presence in the Hyten said he thinks the range ballistic missiles that done,” Pompeo said.q

Administration offers plan to cover COVID care for uninsured

By RICARDO ALONSO- lion, according to a recent coronavirus.
ZALDIVAR estimate from the nonpar- The plan for the uninsured
Associated Press tisan Kaiser Family Founda- was part of a broader an-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The tion. Democrats and some nouncement by the gov-
Trump administration an- health industry groups say ernment detailing a sec-
nounced a plan Wednes- the relief money approved ond round of economic re-
day to start paying hospi- by Congress should go di- lief payments to hospitals,
tals and doctors who care rectly to health care fa- doctors and other health
for uninsured patients with cilities, and the adminis- care service providers.
COVID-19, but Democrat- tration should cover the Before Wednesday's an-
ic lawmakers and health uninsured by expanding nouncement, $30 billion
industry groups are likely to programs such as Med- had been distributed. Ad-
press for more. icaid and the Affordable ditional funds now being
Under the approach de- Care Act. An HHS press re- released include:
tailed by Health and Hu- Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during lease describing the plan — $20 billion in payments
man Services Secretary a visit to the GE Healthcare manufacturing facility Tuesday for the uninsured says pay- across a range of health
Alex Azar, hospitals and April 21, 2020, in Madison, Wis. ments for their care would care facilities.
doctors would submit their Associated Press. be made "subject to avail- — $10 billion targeted to
bills directly to the govern- "This says if you don't have elective surgeries and pro- able funding." coronavirus hot spots; New
ment and they would get insurance, go get taken cedures have been put About 28 million people York will receive $4.4 bil-
paid at Medicare rates. care of — we have you on hold. For COVID-19 pa- were uninsured before the lion.
Uninsured people would covered," Azar said in an tients who are covered by pandemic hit, and that —$10 billion for rural health
not be liable for costs, interview. The money will health insurance, hospitals number is expected to clinics and hospitals
and health care provid- come from a pot of $100 and doctors accepting rise sharply. Consultants at —$400 million for Indian
ers would not have to ask billion that Congress has money from the relief fund Health Management As- Health Service facilities.
any questions about a approved to provide relief would have to agree to sociates estimate that 12 Azar said additional allo-
patient's immigration sta- for the health care system, not to send "surprise" bills million to 35 million people cations will be announced
tus, an issue that's been which is trying to cope for out-of-network services. could lose workplace cov- for nursing homes, for hos-
cited as a barrier to care with the high cost of coro- COVID-19 treatment for erage in the economic pitals and doctors that
in communities with many navirus care while facing the uninsured could cost shutdown aimed at con- rely on Medicaid, and for
foreign-born residents. a cash crunch because from $14 billion to $48 bil- taining the spread of the dentists.q