Iran’s deputy health minister Iraj Haririchi, who appeared on television sweaty and ill to warn Iranians of coronavirus yesterday, tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.

In a news conference on national television, Haririchi coughed and wiped sweat using tissues on several occasions. He was later diagnosed with coronavirus, according to state media.

He was standing next to the government spokesman Ali Rabiei to speak about the latest cases of coronavirus in Iran.

Iran is facing the largest coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, with the second largest number of deaths after China.