According to a BBC report based on its own investigation, the government data pertaining to Covid-19 death in Iran is close to 42,000 during the aforementioned period, as opposed to 14,505 deceased reported by its health ministry.

The country has also underreported the number of people infected- 278,827- while sources claim the original figure to be 451,024, almost double the reported number.

Iran also recorded its first Covid-19 death on January 22, a month prior to reporting its official maiden novel coronavirus case.

Data between the national and regional levels have also seen heavy irregularities, drawing criticism from certain corners.

A doctor told the outlet that the ministry was under pressure from intelligence and security bodies in Iran and that it was 'in denial'.

Initially they did not have testing kits and when they got them, they weren't used widely enough. The position of the security services was not to admit to the existence of coronavirus in Iran," the doctor said.

It is believed that the cover-up was done to keep the parliamentary elections unaffected.

According to Dr Nouroldin Pirmoazzen, a former MP and an ex-official at the health ministry, if the truth was out, people would have taken to the streets to protest.

"Those who brought the country to this point don't pay the price. It is the poor people of the country and my poor patients who pay the price with their lives," he said.