A member of a council that advises Iran's supreme leader has reportedly died after falling sick from the new coronavirus, becoming the first top official to succumb to the illness that is affecting members of the Islamic Republic's leadership.
State news agency IRNA announced the death of Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi as it revealed the official death has risen by 12 to 66 people, and confirmed cases hitting 1,501.
It did not specify the cause of death, but said Mr Mirmohammadi had died at Tehran's Massih Danechvari Hospital, the capital's main centre for coronavirus patients.
The council advises Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as settles disputes between the supreme leader and parliament.
Mr Mirmohammadi's death comes as other top officials have contracted the virus in Iran, which has the highest death toll in the world after China, the epicentre of the outbreak.
Those sick include Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, state media reported.
Also sick is Iraj Harirchi, the head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who tried to downplay the virus before falling ill.
Pedestrians cross a street as one of them prepares his face mask in western Tehran, Iran, Saturday, 29 February, 2020. Source: AAP
Across the wider Mideast, there are over 1,150 cases of the new coronavirus, including the first cases in Saudi Arabia, the majority of which are linked back to Iran.
Experts worry Iran's percentage of deaths to infections, around 5.5 per cent, is much higher than other countries, suggesting the number of infections in Iran may be much higher than current figures show.
Trying to stem the outbreak of the new coronavirus, Iran on Monday held an online-only briefing by its Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi opened the online news conference addressing the outbreak, dismissing an offer of help for Iran by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"We neither count on such help nor are we ready to accept verbal help," Mr Mousavi said.
He added Iran has always been "suspicious" about America's intentions and accused the US government of trying to weaken Iranians' spirits over the outbreak.
WHO medics, aid flown into Iran
A plane carrying UN medical experts and aid touched down Monday in Iran on a mission to help it tackle the world's second-deadliest outbreak of coronavirus as European powers said they would send further help.
The World Health Organization said a flight arrived from Dubai carrying medical supplies and experts on a fact-finding mission and to "provide guidance on strengthening and scaling up the response to the ongoing outbreak."
Germany, France and Britain, for their part, said they would send emergency medical supplies including testing equipment, bodysuits and gloves as well as five million euros to help tackle the outbreak.
The British Embassy meanwhile has begun evacuations over the virus.
"Essential staff needed to continue critical work will remain," the British Foreign Office said.
"In the event that the situation deteriorates further, the ability of the British Embassy to provide assistance to British nationals from within Iran may be limited."
While Iran has closed schools and universities to stop the spread of the virus, major Shiite shrines have remained open despite civilian authorities calling for them to be closed.
The holy cities of Mashhad and Qom in particular, both home to shrines, have been hard-hit by the virus. Shiites often touch and kiss shrines as a sign of their faith.
Authorities have been cleaning the shrines with disinfectants.
