Tasnim – Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli made assurances that no cases of coronavirus have been reported in the country so far.

Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Saturday, Rahmani Fazli pointed to a cabinet session on Friday night chaired by First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri on the threat of coronavirus epidemic and said so far, no cases of corona have been reported in the country.

However, he added, given the close relations between Iran and China, there is a possibility that it could spread to the country.

Screening is fully implemented at the entrances of the country and restrictions on travels from and to China have been introduced, the interior minister went on to say.

China’s Wuhan is in virtual lockdown, and nearly all flights at the city's airport have been canceled and checkpoints block the main roads leading out of town.

Authorities have imposed similar lockdowns on more than 10 cities near Wuhan as part of the ongoing containment effort.

The virus has so far killed 259 people and spread to at least 18 countries around the world, with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases standing at more than 11790.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared it an international public health emergency.

Iran is a major destination for Chinese tourists visiting the Middle East.