Iran's supreme leader has warned that the country's economic problems will worsen if the novel coronavirus spreads unchecked, saying the initial momentum to contain it has since “waned”.

“It is correct to say that something must be done to prevent economic problems caused by the coronavirus,” said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“But in the case of negligence and significant spread of the disease, economic problems will increase, too,” he said in a meeting with judiciary officials, according to his official website.