Detained Iranian opposition figure tests positive for Covid-19

Mir Hossein Mousavi is known for his involvement in the 2009 Green Movement

Iranians wait in a taxi queue in a street in Tehran, with the country facing the deadliest coronavirus outbreak in the region. EPA Photo

Iranian opposition figure Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife, under house arrest for nearly a decade, tested positive for Covid-19, an opposition website reported on Sunday.

Mr Mousavi, former prime minister of Iran, and his wife Zahra Rahnavard "were examined by a doctor at their home … and their general state of health is good," said the Kaleme site.

Mr Mousavi, 79, along with Mehdi Karroubi, 83, were reformist candidates in the disputed election of 2009, which was won by hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

They claimed the vote was rigged, triggering months of mass protests known as the Green Movement.

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets, particularly in the capital Tehran, in the biggest challenge to the system since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

Mr Mousavi and Mr Karroubi were placed under house arrest without trial in early 2011, along with their wives.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed their opposition movement was sedition and repeatedly demanded the two men repent before receiving a pardon.

Since February, Iran has been facing the deadliest coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East.

It has recorded about 42,000 deaths from more than 775,000 cases, but the real figures are thought to be much higher, even by Iranian officials.

Authorities are considering imposing new nationwide restrictions from November 21 after reporting a record 12,453 cases on Sunday, according to the health ministry.