Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor to Iran’s Leader, Contracts 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 coronavirus and is currently in quarantine.
The public relations department of Masih Daneshvari Hospital, which Velayati heads, stated in an announcement that on Wednesday afternoon, “with the appearance of mild symptoms, upon the recommendation of physicians, testing was conducted and signs of coronavirus were detected in Dr. Velayati.”
The public relations office added that Iran’s leader’s advisor is currently in home quarantine and “his general condition is good and improving.”
Masih Daneshvari Hospital attributed Velayati’s coronavirus infection to “carrying out coronavirus response-related affairs” and “conducting daily activities alongside physicians and nurses.”
Ali Akbar Velayati’s coronavirus infection occurs while on the fifth day of the month, he had said in an interview with Iran’s state television news network that “coronavirus disease is not more severe than the influenza epidemic that, by the grace of God, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministry of Health, and medical-educational centers have overcome.”
He had added: “God willing, soon, which will not take long, this epidemic curve will move downward and will be controlled.”
These statements come as, since the outbreak of coronavirus in Iran, the trend has been upward and according to the Islamic Republic’s health minister, if things go well, this trend will continue until April 9, and the country will remain affected by this epidemic for up to two months after that.
In recent days, several other politicians and officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have contracted or died from the new coronavirus. Eshaq Jahangiri, the First Vice President of Iran, is among the highest-ranking officials who has contracted coronavirus and is currently in quarantine.
Mohammad Javad Irvani, deputy for oversight and audit of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office, also tested positive for coronavirus and is now in quarantine.
Source: Radio Farda
