Iranian tourism minister visits Russia to finalize visa-free agreement

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan entered Moscow on Sunday to finalize work on a bilateral visa-free agreement for tourist groups with Russia, CHTN reported.

Flocks of migratory bird land in Chaldoran wetlands

TEHRAN – The beautiful wetlands of Chaldoran in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan are hosting more than 50 species of migratory birds.

36 Iranian universities among world’s top 1,000

TEHRAN – Thirty-six Iranian universities have been listed among more than 1,000 major universities worldwide, according to the Center for Science and Technology Studies Leiden Ranking for 2021.

Some $2m earmarked to create 33 accessible cities

TEHRAN – A total budget of 82 billion rials (nearly $2 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been allocated to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities in 33 cities, the secretary of the accessible cities coordination headquarters, has announced.

IRCS ready to vaccinate 3 million refugees, rare disease patients

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has announced readiness to vaccinate some three million refugees and people with special diseases against coronavirus if the required doses of the vaccine are provided.

I know Bahrain like back of my hand: Skocic

TEHRAN – Iran national football team head coach Dragan Skocic says that he knows Bahrain like back of his hand.

Gas industry to reduce air pollutants by 70% in 3 years

TEHRAN – The air pollutants in Iran’s gas industry will be reduced by 70 percent over the next three years, Gholamreza Bahman-Nia, head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC)’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department, said.

Tehran, Seoul expected to resume trade within 3 months

TEHRAN - Head of the Iran-South Korea Joint Chamber of Commerce has announced the trade between the two countries is expected to resume in the next three to five months, IRNA reported.

Iran, EAEU soon to begin talks over establishing free trade zone

TEHRAN - Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are set to begin negotiations on a full-fledged joint free trade zone in the near future, the press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) announced.

Post-sanction Iran able to boost oil output to 6m bpd: Lukoil

TEHRAN - Vice President of Russia’s giant Lukoil Company has said Iran is able to quickly boost its oil output to six million barrels per day (bpd) if the U.S. sanctions are lifted, Russian state-owned Tass reported.

Water storage in Iranian dams exceeds 28b cubic meters

TEHRAN –Iranian Energy Ministry data indicates that currently 28.81 billion cubic meters of water is stored behind the dams across Iran, indicating that 57 percent of the capacity of the country’s dams is full.

Iran stronger than ever: Leader

TEHRAN - In a live televised speech on the anniversary of Imam Khomeini's demise, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underlined the strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying that the establishment got stronger by the day despite predictions on part of the enemies that it will collapse.

Dragan Skocic pleased with win over Hong Kong

TEHRAN – Iran national football team head coach Dragan Skocic is pleased with their win over Hong Kong at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

Leader’s support for Guardian Council ‘heartens us’: Jannati

TEHRAN - Guardian Council secretary Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati on Wednesday thanked Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for backing the Guardian Council, saying the Leader’s support has heartened the members of the vetting body.

Government says is impartial in presidential elections

TEHRAN – The presidential chief of staff on Wednesday said the government is “quite impartial” toward the presidential elections.

By Sadeq Lavasani

Iran's fertility rate alarmingly low

No more than a decade ago, Iran boasted one of the world's youngest populations all thanks to a baby boom that began in the mid-seventies and reached its peak soon after the revolution of 1979. Millions of Iranian baby boomers are now either reaching middle-age or are well into it.

Taq Kasra, Persian masterpiece of architecture in Iraq, to be restored

TEHRAN – Iraq’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Hassan Nazim has said urgent restoration work is due to commence on Taq Kasra. 

$3.3m paid to support tourism businesses in Hamedan

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has paid some 140 billion rials (some $3.3 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) in loans to the tourism businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Hamedan province.

Designing cities based on cultural intangibles is essential, deputy tourism minister says

TEHRAN – The design of contemporary cities should incorporate intangible cultural aspects of the nation, deputy tourism minister Mohammad-Hassan Talebian has said.