Coronavirus Causes First Death in Iran, Affects Other Top Officials

Top officials in Iran are confirmed to be infected by the coronavirus, while an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 71-year-old Mohammad Mirmohammadi, has died from the virus.

Fox News reported that “the Iranian Health Ministry recorded 523 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's known total to 1,501. They mark a 53 percent increase since the day before.” The report added that Mohammad Mirmohammadi was an Expediency Council member who advised Khamenei and settled disputes between him and parliament.

BREAKING: At least 210 died from #Coronavirus in Iran with highest death toll in the capital Tehran, followed by the holy city of Qom which is located very close to the capital and was where the virus first originated, hospital sources in the country told BBC. pic.twitter.com/L7OzFKd9o4

— Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی (@NegarMortazavi) February 28, 2020

His death happened after the government rejected help from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who announced that the U.S. was “concerned Iran may have covered up details on the spread of the virus,” said Fox News. “All nations, including Iran, should tell the truth about the coronavirus and cooperate with international aid organizations,” Pompeo said.

“We neither count on such help nor are we ready to accept verbal help,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. He said that the country has always been “suspicious” over American intentions.

The virus has killed at least 66 people in Iran – the highest death toll outside of China. According to Fox News, “the country has closed schools and universities due to COVID-19, but religious Shiite shrines have remained open. Last week, Iranians were captured licking some of the shrines in defiance of the coronavirus.”

“We have no plan to quarantine any district or any city. We only quarantine individuals,” Iran's president Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.