Iranian authorities are closing the land border with neighboring countries for 15 days due to the threat of the spread of the omicron strain of the coronavirus, said official representative of the Iranian customs, TASS reported.

In accordance with the order of the national headquarters for combating the spread of coronavirus and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in order to prevent the spread of the omicron strain, the land border with neighboring countries will be closed for passengers for 15 days from today, the official representative said.

The official said that the matter concerns restrictions on Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Armenia.

As for Turkmenistan, there has been no passenger traffic on the land border since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, he added.

On November 26, the World Health Organization designated the B.1.1.529 coronavirus strain found in southern Africa with the Greek letter omicron. The WHO said in a statement that the species has a large number of mutations, some of which are of concern.

In Iran, the first case of infection with the omicron strain of coronavirus was recorded on December 19.