TEHRAN 

At least 207 more coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 25,986, the country's Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Some 3,677 more people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the overall count up to 453,637, ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said.

She added that 378,727 patients have recovered so far, while 4,079 are hospitalized in critical condition.

Lari warned that 30 of Iran’s 31 provinces are in the red zone with high risk of coronavirus.

Iran is struggling to contain the pandemic since February when the first cases were confirmed in the city of Qom.

In recent weeks, Iran saw a significant surge in new infections and fatalities after restrictions were eased, drawing criticism from health activists.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki has earlier warned that Iran is in the grip of a third wave after managing to overcome the first two waves.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz from Ankara