Member of Council advising Ali Khamenei dies from coronavirus

Iranian state radio said the member of the Expediency Discernment Council, Seyyed Mohammad Mir Mohammadi, has died after falling ill from the novel coronavirus.

The council advises Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Earlier, several Iranian officials fell ill with coronavirus as Iran has become the epicentre of the outbreak in the Middle East. The country has the highest death toll in the world after China.

The number of people infected with COVID-19 in the country is approaching 1000. Over 50 people have died from the coronavirus disease in Iran.

The head of the Iranian section of the Center for the Study of Countries at the Middle East of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS, Nina Mamedova, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the coronavirus outbreak is Iran is a mystery for Orientalists. "Neighboring Arab countries are not affected. At the same time, there is rather high-quality healthcare in Iran, hence why so many people are ill there. Besides, why Qum province? We are looking forward to meeting with representatives of the Iranian embassy to ask these questions," she said.

At the same time, Nina Mamedova said that the United States has opened a trade channel through Switzerland for Tehran to purchase Western medicine and other humanitarian supplies. "Thus, an exception was made from sanctions for the export of medicines and food. The U.S. took this step after it was accused of blocking the purchase of essential goods for patients in Iran. Nevertheless, the Iranian economy is suffering losses due to coronavirus. It has stopped New Year's trade before Novruz, small business suffers losses because people are ordered to stay at home," the orientalist said.