1,046 more cases have tested positive in the past 24 hours, increasing the total number of infections in Iran to 18,407.

"5,979 patients have been discharged from hospital after being cured," he added. (ILKHA)

At least 221,000 people have until now been diagnosed with COVID-19 epidemic around the world, with the death toll rising to almost 9,000. (ILKHA)