Masoumeh Ebtekar

A member of a council that advises Iran's supreme leader died on March 2 after falling sick from the new coronavirus, state radio reported, becoming the first top official to succumb to the illness that is affecting members of the Islamic Republic's leadership.

Expediency Council member Mohammad Mirmohammadi died at a Tehran hospital of the virus, state radio said. He was 71.

Iranian vice president for women and family affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar has contracted the coronavirus, IRNA reported, quoted by RIA Novosti.

"Due to some signs of infection, Ms Ebtekar was tested and tested positive," the vice presidential adviser told the agency.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani appointed two women vice-presidents on Aug. 9, but made no changes to an all-male list of cabinet ministers criticized by reformists for its lack of female representation.

Iran is to appoint a woman ambassador for the first time since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to unconfirmed media reports April 15.
      
The reports said foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham would be named ambassador to an Asian country.
      

Corruption thrives in the absence of free media, according to Masoumeh Ebtekar, the first female vice president of Iran, who has called on the Iranian and Turkish governments to work together against corruption.