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| Iranian Vice President Hit With Virus | Iranian Vice President Hit With Virus |
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| An Iranian cabinet member just a few seats away from President Hassan Rouhani has fallen ill with coronavirus, making her Iran’s sixth official to test positive, including one prominent cleric who has died. | An Iranian cabinet member just a few seats away from President Hassan Rouhani has fallen ill with coronavirus, making her Iran’s sixth official to test positive, including one prominent cleric who has died. |
| Masoumeh Ebtekar, Mr. Rouhani’s deputy for women’s affairs and the highest-ranking woman in the government, said on Thursday she had a confirmed coronavirus infection and was quarantined at home. Her disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she may have exposed others including Mr. Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from Mr. Rouhani. | |
| Ms. Ebtekar was also known to Americans as Mary during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy. | Ms. Ebtekar was also known to Americans as Mary during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy. |
| Iran now appears to have the highest number of officials infected by the coronavirus, which first surfaced in the holy Iranian city of Qom. The disease is believed to have spread to the country from China, which has maintained close economic relations with the Tehran government despite American sanctions. | Iran now appears to have the highest number of officials infected by the coronavirus, which first surfaced in the holy Iranian city of Qom. The disease is believed to have spread to the country from China, which has maintained close economic relations with the Tehran government despite American sanctions. |
| A regional crossroads, Iran also appears to be a primary source of infections that have spread to neighbors. | A regional crossroads, Iran also appears to be a primary source of infections that have spread to neighbors. |
| At least 245 people have been infected in Iran, with 26 deaths, Health Ministry officials said Thursday. But health experts estimate the number of infections is far higher, possibly in the thousands, because the ratio of reported deaths to infections seems so high. | At least 245 people have been infected in Iran, with 26 deaths, Health Ministry officials said Thursday. But health experts estimate the number of infections is far higher, possibly in the thousands, because the ratio of reported deaths to infections seems so high. |
| Cases popping up in recent days in Bahrain, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Oman, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Kuwait all have afflicted people who had visited Iran. There were unconfirmed reports Thursday that Austria’s foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, was being tested for a coronavirus infection after returning home from Iran and showing symptoms. | Cases popping up in recent days in Bahrain, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Oman, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Kuwait all have afflicted people who had visited Iran. There were unconfirmed reports Thursday that Austria’s foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, was being tested for a coronavirus infection after returning home from Iran and showing symptoms. |
| Despite earlier claims by the Iranian authorities that the coronavirus risk is under control and has been exaggerated by enemy propaganda, they canceled Friday prayers Prayers in Tehran and 22 other cities, and ordered schools and universities closed until the end of the Iranian year on March 21. All cultural and sports events will remain shut down for another week, the Ministry of Culture said. | Despite earlier claims by the Iranian authorities that the coronavirus risk is under control and has been exaggerated by enemy propaganda, they canceled Friday prayers Prayers in Tehran and 22 other cities, and ordered schools and universities closed until the end of the Iranian year on March 21. All cultural and sports events will remain shut down for another week, the Ministry of Culture said. |
| Besides Ms. Ebtekar, the other Iranian officials infected include: Mojtaba Zolnour, a member of parliament from Qom and head of parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee; Mahmoud Sadeghi, an outspoken member of parliament from Tehran; Iraj Harirchi, the deputy health minister who had been leading the effort to contain the coronavirus; Morteza Rahmanzadeh, the mayor of a Tehran district; and Hadi Khosroshahi, a prominent cleric and former ambassador to the Vatican. | Besides Ms. Ebtekar, the other Iranian officials infected include: Mojtaba Zolnour, a member of parliament from Qom and head of parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee; Mahmoud Sadeghi, an outspoken member of parliament from Tehran; Iraj Harirchi, the deputy health minister who had been leading the effort to contain the coronavirus; Morteza Rahmanzadeh, the mayor of a Tehran district; and Hadi Khosroshahi, a prominent cleric and former ambassador to the Vatican. |
| Mr. Khosroshahi, 81, died in the hospital, Iran’s official media have reported, as has Elham Sheikhi, 22, a professional athlete and member of the women’s national soccer team. | Mr. Khosroshahi, 81, died in the hospital, Iran’s official media have reported, as has Elham Sheikhi, 22, a professional athlete and member of the women’s national soccer team. |