A taxi driver wearing a face mask drives in Tonekabon city, northern Iran, on June 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

--Iran's COVID-19 cases up to 204,952 with 9,623 deaths;

--Turkey's tally reaches 187,685 with 4,950 deaths;

--Saudi Arabia lifts anti-coronavirus restrictions;

--Israel's active cases highest since May 10.

CAIRO, June 21 -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases approached 205,000 in Iran on Sunday, while Turkey's tally of coronavirus infections surpassed 187,000.

Iran, which has re-emerged as the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, reported 2,368 new cases, taking the total number of infections to 204,952.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 9,623 Iranians, up by 116 in the past 24 hours. A total of 163,591 coronavirus patients have recovered, with 2,887 still in critical condition.