Another Islamic Republic official dies from coronavirus

Hossein Sheikholeslam, Vice President for International Affairs at Azad University and a veteran diplomat of the Islamic Republic, died on the evening of Thursday, March 6, at Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran due to infection with the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

He is the third Iranian official to die from the coronavirus. Iranian media reported on Tuesday that Ahmad Tuyserkani, an advisor to the head of the Islamic Republic's judiciary, had died from the virus.

Reports indicate that some other officials of the Islamic Republic are also infected with the coronavirus. The death of Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, due to the coronavirus, was previously reported in the media.

In a speech last Friday, the US Secretary of State referred to the "secrecy" of the Islamic Republic's authorities regarding the coronavirus outbreak and said that the United States is ready to help improve the health system of the Iranian people.

The United States announced on Thursday that it has granted waivers from sanctions on Iran, allowing Iran's central bank to make financial transfers to send certain humanitarian services.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has also announced Washington's readiness to help Tehran combat the deadly coronavirus outbreak, making it conditional on Iran's "request."

Source: Voice of America