BERLIN (IRNA) -- The 2006 AIDS epidemic update released by the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Berlin on Tuesday, praised Iran's measures in fighting the deadly virus.

"Iran has considerably stepped up his HIV measures in the past years," the annual UN report said in part.

Last month the Executive Director of the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS Peter Piot was quoted as saying in the German press that Iran's anti-HIV program could serve as a model for other Middle East countries.

He hailed the Iranians for dealing what he termed "pragmatic" approach with the HIV problem.