Iranian coach Dastneshan dies of COVID-19

TEHRAN - Iranian football coach Nader Dastneshan passed away on Friday from COVID-19.

Iran suspends flights to and from France

TEHRAN –All flights to and from France have been suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the spokesman of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) has announced.

Five countries seeking to purchase Iranian COVID-19 vaccine

TEHRAN – Two European countries and three regional countries have asked to purchase homegrown coronavirus vaccine (COVIRAN BAREKAT), Mohammad Mokhber, the head of the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam has said.

Iran starts COVID-19 vaccinations for Olympians

TEHRAN – Iranian athletes, who will participate at the 2020 Olympic Games, are be eligible to jump the queue for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Iranian Tour Operators Association pursues tourist visas resumption

TEHRAN – Iranian Tour Operators Association is formulating a proposal for the resumption of tourist visas after months of suspension amid strict government measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Esteghlal, Persepolis players test negative for COVID-19

TEHRAN – Esteghlal and Persepolis football team players and staff tested negative for COVID-19 ahead of the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Two Persepolis players likely to miss 2021 ACL groups stage

TEHRAN – Persepolis football team defenders Farshad Faraji and Saeid Aghaei didn’t travel to Goa, India following their initial positive test for COVID-19.

IRGC hospitals double capacity to battle coronavirus

TEHRAN – Due to the rising number of coronavirus patients, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has doubled the number of beds in its affiliated hospitals allocated to the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Iran’s Farhad Shahmiri ends refereeing career

TEHRAN – Iranian international volleyball referee Farhad Shahmiri brought an end to his refereeing career.

Iranian coach Dastneshan in coma due to COVID-19

TEHRAN – Iranian long-serving coach Nader Dastneshan has been placed in an induced coma due to COVID-19.

By Afshin Majlesi

Six destinations to visit in Hamedan when travel opens up

TEHRAN – It is more than a year since many countries around the world have imposed sweeping travel bans and advisories to stem the spread of novel coronavirus within their borders and beyond.

Nationwide lockdown necessary to contain COVID-19: health ministry

TEHRAN – The Iranian Ministry of Health has announced that a nationwide lockdown is necessary for two weeks in order to curb the recent wave of coronavirus which has surged infections and mortalities following the Noruz (New Year holidays).

COVID-19 vaccination for nurses in Qom

On Tuesday, nurses at emergency departments of hospitals in the city of Qom received the coronavirus vaccine.

Iranian Paralympic athletes get COVID-19 vaccines

TEHRAN – The Iranian Para athletes, who will participate at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Iran says no plan yet to suspend Turkey flights due to virus

TEHRAN – The Association of Iranian Airlines (AIA) on Sunday announced that it has no plan at present to suspend flights to and from Turkey due to the spread of a new coronavirus variant.

Street sweepers getting COVID-19 vaccine

On Saturday, the first group from a total of 500 street sweepers received the coronavirus vaccine in the city of Arak, central Markazi province.

Noruz visits to Iranian museums falls by one-fifth due to virus

TEHRAN – Visits to Iranian museums fell by one-fifth during the recent Iranian New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 19-April 2) in comparison to the same period two years ago, when the new coronavirus was not yet an issue.

Iran set to close borders with Turkey to curb COVID-19

TEHRAN – The Iranian health minister has issued an order, restricting travels to and from Turkey for a week in a bid to help contain the new coronavirus variant.

Coronavirus cases rise in Iran as millions travel during holiday

TEHRAN – The number of coronavirus cases has been rising in Iran after millions traveled across the country during the Noruz holiday, which officially began on March 20.

Over 6,000 passengers tested for COVID-19 at Iranian borders

TEHRAN – Some 6,173 suspected passengers have undergone PCR tests for coronavirus at the country's official borders since March 20, a spokesman for the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), has said.

Iran to start producing Sputnik V vaccine this month

TEHRAN – An Iranian company is cooperating with Russia to produce the “Sputnik V” vaccine this month, the Iranian ambassador to Russia has announced.

Iran’s ‘Fakhra’ vaccine to be mass-produced by late May

TEHRAN – Iran will start mass production of homegrown ‘Fakhra’ vaccine for COVID-19 by the end of the third Iranian calendar month of Khordad (May 21).

Iran-China strategic partnership highlights cooperation for fighting COVID-19

TEHRAN – The strategic partnership document which was signed by Iran and China on Saturday highlights bilateral cooperation for fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Over 40,000 passengers tested for COVID-19 at borders

TEHRAN – More than 40,000 passengers have been tested for coronavirus at official border terminals since March 14, the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported on Thursday.

Iran unveils, tests new COVID-19 vaccine

Fakhra vaccine is named after martyred nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh

TEHRAN – Fakhra vaccine, named after martyred nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was unveiled and started the clinical trial on Tuesday, IRNA reported.

Iran suspends Iraq flights due to virus strain

TEHRAN – The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization of Iran on Monday announced all flights to the country from Iraq have been suspended for a week to curb the spread of a Covid-19 strain.

COVID-19 inflicts $1.1 billion in losses on Isfahan tourism

TEHRAN – The tourism industry of Isfahan province has suffered a loss of some 48,000 billion rials (about $1.1 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, a provincial tourism official announced on Sunday.