'Can't Confirm': MEA After Pilgrims Claim 254 Indians In Iran Tested Positive For Covid-19

"Cannot confirm that over 250 Indians in Iran have tested positive for coronavirus and whether the list that is being circulated is authentic or not ," MEA official said.

Indian nationals evacuated from Iran undergo a disinfectant process before being quarantined in Indian Army Wellness Facility Centre at Jaisalmer Military Station. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The External Affairs Ministry officials on Tuesday said they cannot confirm whether more than 250 Indians in Iran have tested positive for novel coronavirus but acknowledged that they were aware of such a list of people being circulated. At the daily inter-ministerial press briefing on coronavirus on Tuesday evening, MEA Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi was asked several times about Indians in Iran testing positive. "Of course in a situation like that, you will find some positive cases among the Indian pilgrims given the extensive spread of virus in Iran," Ravi told reporters. "Rest assured that every care is being taken by mission in cooperating and coordinating with the government of Iran for safety of Indians there. The ambassador is giving a lot of attention to them," he said. "Cannot confirm that over 250 Indians in Iran have tested positive for coronavirus and whether the list that is being circulated is authentic or not ," he said in response to a question about media reports claiming that more than 250 Indians in Iran have tested positive for the virus. He, however, said that it was not possible that all the tests of the Indian pilgrims would have come out negative as they were located in Qom. Sources also said that the situation was being "closely monitored" with respect to the Indian mission in Tehran. They said there were no plans to evacuate the mission staff as of now and "steps will be taken as necessary".