Iran Reports More than 1,500 New Virus Cases

Iranians wearing protective masks cross a main road in Tehran on April 13, 2020 during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)
Iranians wearing protective masks cross a main road in Tehran on April 13, 2020 during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)
TT

Iran Reports More than 1,500 New Virus Cases

Iranians wearing protective masks cross a main road in Tehran on April 13, 2020 during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)
Iranians wearing protective masks cross a main road in Tehran on April 13, 2020 during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)

Iran warned Saturday that coronavirus infections were rising in the southwest despite falls in other regions, as it announced more than 1,500 new confirmed cases.

"All provinces are showing a gradual drop in new infections... except for Khuzestan, where the situation is still concerning," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in televised remarks.

The health ministry stopped publishing provincial figures for the coronavirus last month.

It has instead opted for a color-coded system of white for low-risk parts of the country, yellow for medium-risk and red for high-risk areas.

Latest reports have shown Khuzestan red along with a few other provinces, including the capital Tehran and the Shiite clerical center of Qom, where Iran reported its first cases in February.

Early last week, Iran's official daily caseload hit its lowest level since March 10, but it has since climbed again steadily.

Jahanpour said 1,529 new cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours, taking the overall total to 106,220.

There were 48 new deaths taking the overall toll to 6,589.

Of all those admitted to hospital, 85,064 people had recovered and been discharged.

Experts both at home and abroad have cast doubt on Iran's official figures, saying the actual number of cases could be much higher.



Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Dies in an Autogiro Accident

A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo
A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo
TT

Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Dies in an Autogiro Accident

A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo
A general view of the Iranian capital Tehran after several explosions were heard, October 26, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters file photo

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander and his pilot were killed Monday in an autogiro accident during an operation near the Pakistani border, state TV reported.

The report said that Gen. Hamid Mazandarani died during a military operation in the Sirkan border area, located in Sistan and Baluchistan province.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said that the crash occurred during a drill.

An autogiro, resembling a helicopter in rotor design but simpler and smaller, is typically used in Iran for pilot training and border monitoring. It is capable of carrying two people.