CAIRO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey approached 130,000 on Tuesday, while Iran's tally of coronavirus infections is poised to cross the major threshold of 100,000.

People strolls at Eminonu, in Istanbul, on May 5, 2020, Turkey will relax confinement rules of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus on people aged 65 and over, on May 4, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted that 1,832 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, bringing the total number in the country to 129,491.

The death toll from the coronavirus in Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, climbed to 3,520 after 59 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said.

In Iran, the tally of COVID-19 infections came closer to the major threshold of 100,000 on Tuesday by surging to 99,970, after 1,323 new cases were reported. Meanwhile, the death toll soared to 6,340, after 63 more fatalities were added.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the U.S. should lift the "unlawful" sanctions against Iran to prove that it is sincere in offering help in the battle against the coronavirus.

If the Americans are honest in offering their help to Iran, "the only way for them is to end the illegal sanctions on Iran," Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Saudi Arabia reported 1,595 new cases of coronavirus infection and nine more deaths, raising the tally of confirmed cases to 30,251 and the death toll to 200. The total recoveries rose to 5,431 after 955 more patients were cured of the disease.

Qatar's Health Ministry on Tuesday announced 951 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the tally of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 17,142.

It added that 114 people recovered from the disease, leading the total recoveries to 1,924, while the death roll remained at 12.

In Kuwait, the Health Ministry reported 526 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, bringing the total infections to 5,804 and the death toll to 40.

The ministry also announced that Kuwait will participate in an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to compare options for treating the COVID-19 disease.

The initiative, entitled Solidarity, aims to obtain the largest number of data and results that contribute to determining safe and effective medicines and finding an effective treatment for the coronavirus, said Abdullah Al-Bader, the ministry's assistant undersecretary for drug and food control affairs.

The United Arab Emirates announced 462 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 15,192, including 146 deaths and 3,153 recoveries.

Egypt's daily COVID-19 infections set a new record of 388 cases on Tuesday, raising the total cases in the country to 7,201.

Meanwhile, 16 patients died from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 452. Egypt's recoveries increased to 1,730 after a new daily record of 98 recoveries was set.

Morocco reported 166 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 5,219, while the death toll rose to 181 after two more fatalities were added.

Sudan recorded 100 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 778. Four new deaths were confirmed, bringing the death toll from the coronavirus to 45, the Health Ministry said.

In Iraq, the Health Ministry confirmed 85 new COVID-19 infections and four more deaths, bringing the total number of infections to 2,431 and the death toll to 102.

In Israel, the number of coronavirus infections rose to 16,289 after 43 new cases were added. The death toll increased to 238, after three new deaths were reported, while the number of recoveries increased by 401 to 10,465.

Israel prepares for the lifting of more restrictions, as malls, markets and gyms are expected to reopen on Thursday. On May 10, all kindergartens in the state are expected to reopen, a week after school classes were partially resumed.

Yemen's health authorities confirmed nine new cases of COVID-19 and one more death, raising the total number to 21, including three deaths.

Palestine announced 11 new coronavirus cases, including three children, bringing the tally to 543.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye told reporters that the restriction measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will begin to ease starting from Tuesday.

Lebanon on Tuesday recorded one imported COVID-19 case, raising the total number of infections to 741. The new case is an expatriate who arrived in Lebanon two days ago.

The Lebanese cabinet decided to extend the general mobilization measures by another two weeks until May 24 despite its approval of gradual reopening of businesses.

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf said that the EU granted the WHO 15 million euros (16.2 million U.S. dollars) in support for Lebanon's health sector. Enditem