Iran's Top Diplomat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Iran

November 2nd, 5:11am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Iran's foreign minister is at home in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus, the country's state TV reported on Monday. According to the official IRNA news agency, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's general condition was described as good. The report quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying the country's top diplomat is able to perform his work-related duties remotely. IRNA did not confirm that Abdollahian has COVID-19 as the state TV later did. Many Iranian officials have had the illness caused by the coronavirus. With nearly 6 million positive cases, Iran has been hit the worst by the pandemic in the Middle East. The country of 84 million people has reported more than 125,000 deaths, The Associated Press reported. Iranian officials have warned that with less than 45% of the nation fully vaccinated, more surges of the virus are expected. The latest surge came in August, fueled by the contagious delta variant. Less than half the population in Iran follows measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3280146/irans-top-diplomat-tests-positive-covid-19