Iran's Top Diplomat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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Iran's Top Diplomat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian waves as he leaves after his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Iran's foreign minister is at home in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus, the country's state TV reported on Monday.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's general condition was described as good. The report quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying the country's top diplomat is able to perform his work-related duties remotely.

IRNA did not confirm that Abdollahian has COVID-19 as the state TV later did. Many Iranian officials have had the illness caused by the coronavirus.

With nearly 6 million positive cases, Iran has been hit the worst by the pandemic in the Middle East. The country of 84 million people has reported more than 125,000 deaths, The Associated Press reported.

Iranian officials have warned that with less than 45% of the nation fully vaccinated, more surges of the virus are expected. The latest surge came in August, fueled by the contagious delta variant.

Less than half the population in Iran follows measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing.



Germany Arrests a Lebanese Man Accused of Being a Member of Hezbollah

Mourners gather during the funeral of five Hezbollah fighters, who were killed during hostilities with Israeli forces, in the village Al-Sawana, southern Lebanon 03 December 2024. (EPA)
Mourners gather during the funeral of five Hezbollah fighters, who were killed during hostilities with Israeli forces, in the village Al-Sawana, southern Lebanon 03 December 2024. (EPA)
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Germany Arrests a Lebanese Man Accused of Being a Member of Hezbollah

Mourners gather during the funeral of five Hezbollah fighters, who were killed during hostilities with Israeli forces, in the village Al-Sawana, southern Lebanon 03 December 2024. (EPA)
Mourners gather during the funeral of five Hezbollah fighters, who were killed during hostilities with Israeli forces, in the village Al-Sawana, southern Lebanon 03 December 2024. (EPA)

German authorities have arrested a Lebanese man accused of being a member of Hezbollah and working for groups controlled by the organization in Germany.

Federal prosecutors said the suspect, identified only as Fadel R. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in the Hannover region on Tuesday. The man is suspected of membership in a foreign terrorist organization and is not accused of direct involvement in any violence.

Prosecutors said he joined Hezbollah in the summer of 2008 or earlier and took part in leadership training courses in Lebanon. From 2009, he allegedly had leadership duties in two groups controlled by Hezbollah in the Hannover area, organizing appearances by preachers close to the party.

According to prosecutors, he was briefly a correspondent for a Hezbollah media outlet in 2017 and was tasked with coordinating building work at a mosque.

Germany is a staunch ally of Israel. It is also home to a Lebanese immigrant community of more than 100,000.