The announcement about Masoumeh Ebtekar comes days after the man spearheading efforts to tackle the outbreak also tested positive.
A vice president of Iran, Masoumeh Ebtekar, has been infected with the coronavirus, a state-owned newspaper says.
The announcement about the vice president for women and family affairs comes two days after the man tasked with spearheading efforts to tackle the outbreak in the country also tested positive.
Iraj Harirchi was seen sweating and appeared uncomfortable at a news conference about the virus.
Mr Harirchi, deputy health minister and head of Iran’s anti-coronavirus taskforce, posted a video online confirming he had the virus and was self-isolating at home.
Ms Ebtekar is also known as the English-language spokeswoman “Mary” for the 1979 hostage-takers who seized the US embassy in Tehran and sparked a 444-day diplomatic crisis.
Iran has the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths outside China. At least 26 people have died and there have been 254 confirmed cases of the virus, including 106 new infections.
The virus’ epicentre in the Islamic Republic is the holy Shia city of Qom.
