Iran's daily Covid caseload crossed 37,000 mark for the first time today, the health ministry said, as the country also recorded its highest daily fatalities in three months.

In the past 24 hours, Iran registered a record 37,189 positive cases, bringing the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 3,940,708, according to AFP.

The record caseload is Iran's fourth in two weeks as positive cases surge in what the authorities say is the country's “fifth wave” of the virus.

Choked by US sanctions that have made it difficult to transfer money to foreign firms, Iran says it is struggling to import vaccines.

Over 10.2 million people have received so far a first dose, and 2.7m have received the necessary two jabs, the health ministry said.