1, 178 more cases have tested positive in the past 24 hours, increasing the total number of infections in Iran to 16,169.

"5,389 patients have been discharged from hospital after being cured," he added.

At the inauguration ceremony of Phases 2 and 3 of Shahid Hemmat-Karaj Freeway, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said: "I feel obliged to use every opportunity to thank the hard work of doctors and medical staff for fighting coronavirus in these days. These hard days will pass and this grief will end, and God-willing, we will put these hard days behind us with the help of doctors and people."

ILKHA