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 There were however plans to impose some restriction at holy Shi'ite
sites and cancel some sermons on Friday, the Islamic Republic's
traditional day of public prayer, said Health Minister Saeed Namaki.
Iran has had the highest number of deaths from the virus outside
China, where it emerged in late 2019. Health ministry spokesman
Kianush Jahanpur said 139 people had been infected.
Officials announced Iran's first deaths and infections from the
coronavirus as recently as last week, and the sharp rise in numbers
in a short time has led Iranians to criticize authorities online and
accuse them of a cover-up, a charge officials have denied.
Rouhani accused longtime enemy the United States of trying to
paralyze the country with fear.
"We must not let America to add a new virus to the coronavirus by
halting our social activities by spreading tremendous fear," said
Rouhani, according to state TV.
Namaki said later that some decisions had been taken that still
needed Rouhani's approval.
"We have decided to impose partial visit restrictions on holy
Shi'ite sites and Friday prayer sermons in some cities will not be
held this week," Minister Namaki told state TV.
He added that the closure of schools and some universities might be
extended for another week.
Authorities had ordered the nationwide cancellation of concerts and
soccer matches and the closure of schools and universities in many
provinces, and have urged Iranians to stay at home.
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Iranian media published pictures of buses and metro stations being disinfected
in Tehran, where banners in main streets called on Iranians not to shake hands
and touch surfaces in public places.
Several of Iran's neighbors have closed their joint borders and banned flights
from Iran due to fears over the virus, which could hurt the Islamic Republic's
already fragile economy.
Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and
Pakistan have all reported cases of coronavirus involving people who traveled to
Iran.
Rouhani also said that coronavirus must not become an enemy weapon that prevents
business in Iran.
Iran's economy has been battered since the United States withdrew from a
multilateral nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
"Corona should not be turned into a weapon of our enemies for shutting down work
and production in the country," Rouhani said.
(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi,; Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh;
Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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