Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Iranian leader, infected with coronavirus

Iranian news agencies reported on Thursday, March 12, that Ali Akbar Velayati, international advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Republic, tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently in quarantine.

The public relations department of Masih Daneshvari Hospital, which is headed by Mr. Velayati, said in a statement that on Wednesday afternoon, "with the appearance of mild symptoms, according to the doctors, a test was conducted and the symptoms of coronavirus were evident in Dr. Velayati."

The public relations office added that the advisor to the Iranian leader is currently in home quarantine and "his general condition is good and improving."

Masih Daneshvari Hospital has stated that the reason for Mr. Velayati's infection with the coronavirus was "carrying out tasks related to combating the coronavirus" and "carrying out daily activities alongside doctors and nurses."

Ali Akbar Velayati's infection with the coronavirus comes at a time when he had said in an interview with the Islamic Republic's state-run television news channel on March 25 that "the coronavirus disease is no more severe than the influenza epidemic, which, by the grace of God, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministry of Health, and educational medical centers have overcome."

He added: "God willing, soon, it won't be long before this epidemic curve starts to decline and is controlled."

These statements come at a time when the spread of the coronavirus in Iran has been on an upward trend since then, and according to the Minister of Health of the Islamic Republic, if things go well, this trend will continue until April 10, and the country will be involved in this epidemic for two months after that.

In recent days, several other politicians and officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran have been infected with or died from the novel coronavirus. Eshaq Jahangiri, Iran's first vice president, is among the most senior officials to have contracted the virus and is currently in quarantine.

Mohammad Javad Iravani, deputy for oversight and auditing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office, has also tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently in quarantine.

Source: Radio Farda