Iranian council member close to Khamenei dies from coronavirus

A member of a council that advises Iran's supreme leader died after being infected with the new coronavirus, Iran's state radio reported.

Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi, 71, died at a Tehran hospital. He is the first top official to succumb to the illness that is affecting dozens of people in the Islamic Republic.

The council advises Supreme Leader Khamenei, as well as settles disputes between the supreme leader and the Iranian parliament.

Mirmohammadi death comes as some 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.

Trying to stem the outbreak of COVID-19, Iran on Monday held an online-only briefing by its foreign ministry as Britain began evacuating nonessential staff and families from the country.