THE vice-president of Iran Masoumeh Ebtekar has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

State media revealed she tested positive for COVID-19 one day after Iran’s deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi confirmed he had contracted the deadly disease.

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Masoumeh Ebtekar is among 254 people infected with the virus in the Middle Eastern nation – the fourth-highest number of cases in the world – where 26 people have been killed so far.

It is believed her symptoms are mild, and she has not yet been admitted to hospital.

Ms Ebtekar, who is vice president for women and family affairs, was the first female member of the cabinet in Iran when she was nominated to head the Department for Environment in 1997.

She is better known as the English-language spokeswoman “Mary” for the 1979 hostage-takers who seized the US Embassy in Tehran and sparked the 444-day diplomatic crisis.

The Vice President is reported to have attended a cabinet meeting yesterday during which she sat close to President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, according to reports by the BBC's Persian correspondent.

Iran has emerged as a major coronavirus hotspot in the region, recording the highest number of coronavirus deaths outside of China as the country struggles to stop the spread of the disease.

Some 10% of those who have tested positive in Iran for COVID-19 have died.

But the World Heath Organisation has said this relatively high fatality figure is largely down to mild cases not being picked up early enough.

Iran has now banned Chinese citizens from entering the country, the state news agency IRNA said.

Ms Ebtekar’s diagnosis comes just one day after the man tasked with spearheading efforts to tackle the outbreak in the country also tested positive.

Iran’s deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi appeared pale and sweaty in a television press conference which downplayed the crisis, sparking accusations the secretive regime was hiding the true scale of infection.

Just hours later, he posted a video on social media saying he had contracted the disease and had quarantined himself at his home, promising that authorities will bring the virus under control.

Iranian officials have urged people to stay indoors and avoid "unnecessary trips inside the country" – although there is no mandatory quarantine.

International health experts have expressed concern about Iran’s handling of the outbreak but Tehran insists the situation has been “improving.”

Despite the sharp rise in infections in a short period of time, authorities including President Hassan Rouhani have said Iran has no plans to quarantine any "cities and districts.”

However, the outbreak has led authorities to suspend Friday prayers in Tehran.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki told a news conference visitors to the shrines will be allowed to visit on condition they are provided “with hand-washing liquids, proper (health) information, masks.”

He added:” They must ‘not gather together in groups but just pray and leave.”

The government has also extended its closure of cinemas and ban on cultural events and conferences for another week.

In affected areas, school closures will be extended for three days, and universities for another week starting from Saturday.

Officials have loosened rules barring the import of many foreign-made items so sanitisers, face masks and other necessities can be allowed in.

Iran's foreign ministry said "20,000 coronavirus test kits and some other material" will be delivered to Iran on Friday from China.

The United Arab Emirates has already banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran’s 80 million people.

The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus in Iran amid worries the outbreak may be larger than what authorities there now acknowledge.

Brits returning from Iran have been advised to self-isolate for two weeks, even if they haven’t shown symptoms of the virus.

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