Iran’s top diplomat to Yemen, Hassan Irlu, died on Tuesday after reportedly contracting the coronavirus, the Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that Irlu was being removed from his post over growing strains between Iran and the Houthi militia, who hold Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
The death of Irlu came after he was recalled from Yemen for what Tehran described as medical treatment.
According to Iran’s state-run media the ambassador had become infected with the virus in Yemen, where a war between Iran-backed Houthis and an Arab Coalition has raged for six years.
The US State Department under then-President Donald Trump put Irlu’s name in the list of people who have been sanctioned by Washington.
Trump’s administration described him as a member of Iran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
