25 million Iranians tested positive for COVID-19, 35 million more at risk – President Rouhani

Rouhani said the figures he reeled out were based on a new Health Ministry report.

And they are far higher Iran’s official toll of 269,440 infected.

President Rouhani in a televised speech did not address the discrepancy.

His address was directed to the national coronavirus campaign headquarters in Tehran.

Iran, with a population of more than 80 million, has been the Middle East country hardest hit by the epidemic.

“Our estimate is that as of now 25 million Iranians have been infected with this virus and about 14,000 have lost their dear lives,” Rouhani said in the speech.

“There is the possibility that between 30 and 35 million other people will be at risk,” he said.

“In total, more than 200,000 people have been hospitalised,” he said.

The Health Ministry on Friday said 13,791 people had died from COVID-19.