Iran, Italy resume joint project on cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts

TEHRAN – Iran and Italy have resumed a joint project on cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts, which was initially launched in 2019 and subsequently interrupted due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iran may open borders to travelers in July

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran is weighing plans to open its borders to certain international travelers by issuing tourist visas as of mid-July.  

Director of Music Museum of Iran Ali Moradkhani dies of COVID-19

TEHRAN – The director of the Music Museum of Iran, Ali Moradkhani, died of COVID-19 at Tehran’s Khatam Ul-Anbia Hospital on Monday. He was 63.

Spicogen vaccine to begin human testing in Iran

TEHRAN – The second and third phases of clinical studies of the Iranian-Australian Spicogen vaccine for coronavirus will be performed in Iran, Iranian Food and Drug Administration spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said.

Veteran artists vaccinated

TEHRAN – A group of veteran artists were vaccinated against the coronavirus at the institute for veteran artists in Tehran on Sunday.

Iran football players receive vaccines ahead of World Cup qualifiers

TEHRAN – Iranian national football team players along with coaching staff received the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday.

Iranian institute launches intl. short story competition on COVID-19  

TEHRAN – The Iran Book and Literature House has launched an international competition for short story writing on COVID-19.

Iran considers opening borders to vaccinated travelers

TEHRAN – Iran is weighing plans to open its borders to vaccinated tourists though it isn’t yet clear exactly when tourists will be allowed to arrive.

Blood donation up 27% during Qadr nights

TEHRAN – Iranian people donated 141,148 units of blood during Qadr nights - the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of the holy month of Ramadan fall on May 13th, 15th, and 17th this year – an increase of 27 percent year on year.

ICRC ready to support Iran’s IRCS for vaccinating refugees

TEHRAN – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is ready to support the Iranian Red Crescent Society for vaccinating refugees living in the country against the coronavirus.

COVIRAN BAREKAT vaccine unveiled

TEHRAN – The first batch of COVIRAN BAREKAT, equaling 300,000 doses of the first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, was unveiled in a ceremony on Tuesday.

Iran asks ICRC to provide 2m COVID-19 vaccines for Afghan refugees

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to be used for Afghan refugees.

By Kevin Barrett

Ordinary Arab people will never permanently accept Arab–Israeli normalization

West Asia is currently bogged down in an apparent stalemate between the Zionist-imperialist aggressors and the forces of resistance. Neither side has been able to score a clear victory and eliminate or subjugate the other. The Zionists have not been able to erase the Palestinian question, nor have they succeeded in their efforts to neutralize the Axis of Resistance. So the fires are smoldering, and could blaze up into flames at any time.

Iran closes eastern borders as virus surges

TEHRAN – Iran halted the entry of Pakistani and Afghan travelers and other foreign nationals from the eastern borders to the country to contain the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, IRIB reported on Friday.

Iranian anti-corona spray unveiled

TEHRAN – Iran unveiled a domestically-made spray on Thursday, which is used to convert ordinary masks into masks that can kill coronavirus.

Iran extends ban on passenger flights due to coronavirus surge

TEHRAN – Iran has extended travel restrictions on flights to and from 15 countries due to a surge in the coronavirus disease, according to Iran Civil Aviation.

Leader regrets COVID-19 obstacles to annual meeting with literati  

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has expressed regret over the obstacles COVID-19 has created for his annual meeting with literati.

Persepolis to head into quarantine after India’s return

TEHRAN – Persepolis football team’s members will be forced into 14 days of hotel quarantine after returning from India.

Skocic critical of AFC’s decision to choose Bahrain as World Cup qualifiers hosts

TEHRAN - Iran national football team head coach Dragan Skocic once again criticized the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over choosing Bahrain as centralized venue for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Hop-on hop-off bus roams Tehran in memory of health martyrs

TEHRAN – In a symbolic gesture initiated by Tehran Miniciapility, a hop-on hop-off bus on Sunday started roaming the downtown streets of the Iranian capital to mark healthcare workers who lost their lives to COVID-19. 

Persepolis legend Hamid Jasemian dies of COVID-19

TEHRAN – Persepolis football team’s first captain Hamid Jasemian passed away due to coronavirus on Sunday.

82 killed in Iraq as fire erupts at COVID-19 hospital

At least 82 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a fire that broke out in the coronavirus intensive care unit of a Baghdad hospital as public anger erupted demanding the prosecution of high-level Iraqi officials.

Iranian nature photographer Ali-Akbar Aqajari dies of COVID-19 at 62

TEHRAN – Iranian photographer Ali-Akbar Aqajari, most famous for his photography of Iranian natural attractions, died of COVID-19 on Saturday. He was 62.

COVIRAN starts third clinical trial

TEHRAN – COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first coronavirus vaccine made by Iranian researchers, started the third phase of the human trial by being administrated to 20,000 people.

Iran suspends all commercial flights with India and Pakistan over COVID-19 variant

TEHRAN - Iran on Saturday announced the halt of all flights to and from India and Pakistan until further notice over a COVID-19 variant to avert its spread in the already-stricken country.

Over 200,000 passengers tested for COVID-19 at borders

TEHRAN – Some 200,081 passengers have so far been screened for coronavirus by thermal tests at the country's official borders since March 10, Mehdi Valipour, head of Relief and Rescue Organization affiliated to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), has stated.

Persepolis legend Jasemian hospitalized with coronavirus

TEHRAN – Persepolis football club legend Hamid Jasemian has tested positive for COVID-19.

Iran advance to FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021

TEHRAN - Iran will represent Asia at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021.

65% of nursing home residents vaccinated against COVID-19

TEHRAN – Some 65 percent of the elderly being kept in nursing homes have received coronavirus vaccine, Mostafa Seraj, an official with Welfare Organization has said.