Iran should jump-start COVID-hit tourism under health protocols: VP

TEHRAN – First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri on Saturday tasked the tourism ministry with implementing strategic plans to help jump-start the country’s traveling sector ravaged by the coronavirus over the past couple of months.

Iranian COVID-19 vaccine to undergo clinical trial soon

TEHRAN – The Iranian-made coronavirus vaccine has passed the initial laboratory phase and will be tested on humans over the next 2 months, Jalil Kouhpayehzadeh, the chancellor of Iran University of Medical Sciences, has announced.

Rasht-Mashhad five-star train to resume service today

TEHRAN – A 5-star train will resume service between Rasht and Mashhad on Wednesday evening. The train is scheduled to leave Rasht at 19:00 local time towards the holy city of Mashhad, which embraces the shrine complex of Imam Reza (AS).

World medical community, by its oath, has a duty to help lift Iran’s sanctions: health minister

TEHRAN – In a letter to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki called for a global call to remove Iran's drug and food sanctions, noting that the world medical community, by its oath, has a humanistic duty to take action in this regard.

“Sun Children” star Ruhollah Zamani misses Venice festival over coronavirus 

TEHRAN – Director Majid Majidi announced Friday that Ruhollah Zamani, the star his child labor drama “Sun Children”, has missed the 77th Venice Film Festival due to his positive test for COVID-19.

Schools reopened under strict health protocols

TEHRAN – Over 15 million students attended schools nationwide on Saturday for the new school year under strict health protocols to protect teachers, staff, and students against the coronavirus pandemic.

Guardian Council rebuffs reports of Jannati contracting Covid-19

TEHRAN – In a tweet on Thursday, Abbasali Kadkhodaei, the spokesman for the Guardian Council, rebuffed rumors claiming that Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the Council, has contracted Covid-19.

By Yuram Abdullah Weiler

The reality of Ashura versus the reality show of America

“Every day is Ashura and every land is Karbala.” —Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS)1

Responsible tourism a workable solution for coronavirus era: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister has said that responsible tourism is a workable solution for holidaymakers to get assured of safe traveling during the coronavirus pandemic.

International Craft Awards to focus on COVID-19 crisis: deputy minister

TEHRAN – The 4th International Craft Awards is slated to be held this year focusing on the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the handicraft industry, Iran’s deputy tourism minister has said. 

If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart: UNWTO Secretary-General

TEHRAN – In his latest massage regarding the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General has said “If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart.”

Nonzero: only 74 international travelers visit Iran during spring

TEHRAN – The number of foreign travelers to Iran has drastically plunged due to the global coronavirus pandemic as the Islamic Republic registered only 74 visits during the spring season.

All-Iranian system helps diagnose probable COVID-19

An advanced system fully developed by Iranian scientists was unveiled on Monday which can help diagnose respiratory symptoms of coronavirus just in 40 seconds.

People’s health is our first priority: tourism minister

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister has said that his ministry is in full coordination with the Ministry of Health for strictly implementing health protocols in travel destinations, hospitably centers, and museums, amongst others, underlining that “people’s health is our first priority.”

By Masoud Hossein

Skocic’s future remains unclear in Iran football

TEHRAN – Iran football faces multiple problems because of mismanagement over the past years.

DOE studying COVID-19 effect on marine environment pollution

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) is implementing a plan to investigate the impact of the coronavirus on marine pollution, director of the marine pollution control office of the DOE has announced.

WHO lauds efforts of Iranian nurses in COVID-19 battle

TEHRAN – The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised the Iranian nurses for playing an effective role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

All foreign nationals in Iran receive free COVID-19 treatment

TEHRAN – All foreign nationals infected with coronavirus receive medical treatment free of charge in Iran, deputy director for infectious diseases management department of the Ministry of Health has stated.

Iran to resume flights to Iraq after COVID-19 halt 

TEHRAN – Flights from Iran to the Iraqi city of Basrah will be resumed today, following a temporary suspension over the outbreak of the coronavirus, a senior Iranian aviation official has said.

Konkur kicks off amid pandemic

The national university entrance exam is being held under health protocols

TEHRAN – Iran’s national university entrance exam (Konkur) started on Wednesday under health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will run through August 22.

IranAir to resume Tehran-Madrid flights after 17 years   

TEHRAN – The Iranian embassy in Spain has announced that the country’s flag carrier IranAir will resume flights after 17 years between Tehran and Madrid.

WHO strengthens Iran’s response to COVID-19

TEHRAN – In an effort to strengthen Iran’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered 100 ultrasound imaging machines to the Ministry of Health.

Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

Safety of para athletes is top priority of Iran’s NPC: Tabe

TEHRAN - The health, wellbeing, and safety of the para athletes is top priority of Iran’s National Paralympic Committee (NPC), the top official said.

‘Diplomacy Package’ to help Iran recover virus-hit tourism

TEHRAN – Iran is formulating a new initiative called “Tourism Diplomacy Package” to help the tourism sector recover from the coronavirus impact through using diplomacy to accelerate development projects and increase incoming tourists.