TEHRAN: A member of the Iranian clerical body that appoints the country’s supreme leader died of the novel coronavirus, state news agency reported.
Ayatollah Hashem Bathayi was the latest of several senior Iranian officials to have been infected in worsening outbreak. This brings the death toll among politicians and officials, both serving and former, to at least 12, according to international news agency.
States news agency reported that he died at the age of 78, and died after testing positive for coronavirus and being hospitalized.
The official represented Tehran in Assembly of Experts – an 88-strong body of clerics that appoints and monitors Iran’s supreme leader.
Iran is one of the countries that was worst affected by coronavirus pandemic. Earlier on Sunday, Iran reported 368 deaths as the country’s death toll rises to 1,809 while the number of positive cases reached at 24,747.
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