Iran’s health ministry said a further four people infected with the coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country to 12 as neighboring states shut their borders and some airlines stopped  flights. At least 61 people have been diagnosed as having Covid-19 in Iran and at least 12 people have died – the largest number of coronavirus-linked deaths outside China –   the health ministry said on Monday. The increase in fatalities since Sunday, when eight people were declared dead, and the comparatively high mortality rate have stoked fears that Iran is struggling to contain the outbreak, threatening to further isolate the Islamic republic, which is struggling under sanctions.

Turkey closed its land border and Turkish Airlines –   the leading foreign airline in the country –       ceased all flights to and from Iran on Sunday. Other neighbours including Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia and Pakistan have imposed restrictions on border crossings and trade. Emirates airline and Qatar Airways are the only foreign carriers still flying to Iran. Fears over the threat posed by the Iranian outbreak were fanned on Monday by Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani, a member of parliament, who said the real number of deaths in the holy city of Qom was much higher than the official figures and accused the Iranian regime of hiding the extent of the outbreak.

“Until last night, around 50 people died of coronavirus in Qom,” said Mr Amirabadi, adding that more than 250 people had been quarantined in the city. “Unfortunately, it is three weeks that corona has affected Qom but it was announced with a delay [and] there is a shortage of prevention equipment.” He called on the health ministry to quarantine the city, 140km south of Tehran and home to 1.2m people. Mr Amirabadi’s claims echoed concerns shared by many Iranians that the country’s rulers might be hiding the real number of fatalities to prevent public panic.

Iran’s health ministry denied the allegations. Iraj Harirchi, a deputy health minister, said he would resign if only one fourth of the number of deaths claimed by Mr Amirabadi were confirmed and called for the names of the alleged 50 fatalities to be shared confidentially with the ministry.