TheCable

Not less than 210 people infected with the coronavirus disease have died in Iran, according to BBC.

This figure is far less than that quoted by the Iran ministry of health which said that the death toll in the gulf country as of early Friday was 34, with 388 persons infected.

Among those infected are Iran’s vice-president for women and family affairs, its deputy health minister, and at least two members of parliament.

But quoting hospital sources, BBC said the death toll is not less than 210 across the country, with Tehran and Qom, where cases were first reported, being the worst hit.

It added that there are concerns if the health ministry is being transparent with the casualty and infection figures.

A member of parliament for Qom had accused the authorities of a cover-up and Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, expressed concern that the country may be withholding information.

“We have made offers to the Islamic Republic of Iran to help,” Pompeo told a congressional committee in Washington on Friday.

“Their healthcare infrastructure is not robust and to date, their willingness to share information about what’s really going on inside… Iran has not been robust.”

Iran had cancelled Friday prayers in Tehran and 22 other cities while schools and universities have been closed until further notice.