TEHRAN —Iranians spend some 100 trillion rials (nearly $285m) on cigarettes annually, the deputy health minister said on Friday, Fars news agency reported.

Ali-Akbar Sayyari noted that smoking is one of the most important threats to the human health and that the health officials are required to take measures and create culture to decrease the number.

Smoking can trigger health conditions which finally result in premature death in a long run and needs to be dealt with immediately, he added.

MQ/MG