Iran’s Deputy Health Minister, Iraj Harirchi, has tested positive for coronavirus but he vows fight.

Speaking from the quarantine, Iraj Harirchi  announces that he has tested positive for the new coronavirus, but expresses certitude that the country will overpower the epidemic over the upcoming weeks, according to Press TV. 

“I contracted coronavirus, too,” Iraj Harirchi said in a video that surfaced on Tuesday.

He stated that he had entered “isolation” and started treatment, but said his general health condition was favorable, and that he was currently just experiencing fever and fatigue.

Harirchi, meanwhile, said he was certain that the country would come out victorious in the face of the outbreak “in the next couple of weeks,” saying he was giving the assurance “wholeheartedly” as the country had the “effective treatment” at its disposal.

Financial Times reports that Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament, also said he had tested positive.  

Citing Iranian authorities, Financial Times notes that at least 15 people in Iran have now died from coronavirus up from 12 on Monday.

The spread of Covid-19 has deepened the isolation of Iran, already under US sanctions.  Turkey closed its land border with Iran over the weekend and Turkish Airlines — the leading foreign airline in the country — has stopped all flights to and from Iran.

Other neighbors — including Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia and Pakistan — have imposed restrictions on border crossings and trade.  Only two foreign carriers, Emirates airline and Qatar Airways, are still flying to Iran, according to Financial Times.