Virus-hit Iran to reopen mosques for holy nights

Iranian mosques and shrines, like the Fatima Masumeh shrine in the Shiite holy city of Qom, have been closed since March as part of government efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus [Photo: AFP]

Virus-hit Iran will reopen its mosques for three nights over the next week so that worshippers can pray during one of the holiest times of year, a minister said Tuesday.

The Islamic republic shut its mosques and shrines in March as part of its efforts to contain the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of the novel coronavirus.