Iran postpones 2nd round of parliamentary polls over COVID-19 concerns

The second round of Iran's parliamentary elections will be held on Aug. 21, Abbasali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council of Constitution announced on Sunday.

The council, as Iran's highest legislative body, agreed with the request of the Iranian Ministry of Internal Affairs to postpone the second round of elections over the spread of novel coronavirus, Kadkhodaei was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

"The second round of parliamentary elections was to be held on April 17, but it was canceled," he said.

The 11th parliamentary elections were held on Feb. 21 in Iran.

According to Iranian Ministry of Internal Affairs, a total of 24.5 million people, with a turnout of about 42.5 percent, participated in the elections.

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced Sunday that novel coronavirus has affected 13,938 people of whom 724 people have died.