An outbreak of novel coronavirus has affected almost all of Iran's provinces, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday as the death toll reached 92.
"This disease is a widespread disease," he said, according to the official presidency website."It has reached almost all our provinces and in one sense it's a global disease."
Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced at a news conference that the virus has killed 92 people amid 2,922 confirmed cases across the country.
Rouhani said Iran would get through the outbreak with minimum deaths and in the shortest period of time with the skills of its doctors and nurses.
He also took a jab at an American offer to help with the virus outbreak without mentioning the United States directly.
Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States had offered to help Iran with the outbreak.
"They've appeared with a mask of sympathy that 'we also want to help the people of Iran'," Rouhani said. "If you are really telling the truth, then lift sanctions from medicine."
Friday prayers in Iran have been canceled across all provincial capitals, state television said.
The report comes as Tehran and other areas canceled Friday prayers last week over the outbreak.
The virus has sickened top Iranian leaders. Iran stands alone in how the virus has affected its government, even compared to hard-hit China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The IranWire news site reported on Wednesday that first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri has tested positive for coronavirus and is undergoing treatment.
IranWire cited an "informed source". There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian officials.
