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.

Food security plans prepared to boost GNI by $23 billion

TEHRAN – Iran has prepared 16 national plans aiming to improve food security which could increase gross national income by $23 billion.

Iran sets up nanotechnology export centers in six Asian countries

TEHRAN – Iran has created centers in six Asian countries for exporting nanotechnology products, the head of Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council said on Saturday.

Knowledge-based companies developing herbal medicine industry

TEHRAN – More than 230 Iranian knowledge-based companies are active in the country’s herbal medicine industry, producing traditional medicine and other related products.

Prisons create 35,000 job opportunities

TEHRAN – Some 35,000 job opportunities have been created by 950 workshops in prisons across the country.

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.

Lake Urmia restoration should be documented as a successful plan: VP

TEHRAN – The implementation process of Lake Urmia restoration program should be documented accurately and presented as a successful example of large-scale projects, First Vice-President Is’haq Jahangiri has said.

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.

Police seize $12.4m of hoarded goods

TEHRAN – Police forces have seized hoarded goods worth 523 billion rials (nearly $12.4 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) across the country since February 19.

Iran starts mass-production of homegrown coronavirus vaccine

TEHRAN – COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first coronavirus vaccine made by researchers at the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, started to be mass-produced on Monday, ISNA reported.

Iran frees 612 Afghan convicts in ‘humanitarian move’

TEHRAN – Iran has released 612 Afghan convicts in a humanitarian move over the past couple of days, Mahmoud Abbasi, deputy minister of justice for human rights, has said.

IRGC sets up modern mobile hospital to combat COVID-19

TEHRAN - On Sunday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a modern mobile hospital in a bid to help the health sector in the fight against coronavirus.

Improving social emergency services on agenda

TEHRAN – A bill on the structure and duties of the Social Emergency Organization has been drafted to reduce social harm in informal settlements and suburban areas, Vahid Qobadi-Dana, head of the Welfare Organization, said on Sunday.

Free medical services for people aged over 65

TEHRAN – Patients over the age of 65 can receive free inpatient services in state-run hospitals across the country, the IRIB news agency reported on Saturday.

UNDP praises Iran for refugee support

TEHRAN – Iran has always been praised by the world for being committed to global policies in providing financial assistance and support to vulnerable groups and refugees, Claudio Providas, United Nations Development Program representative to Iran said.

National subway train developed despite sanctions

TEHRAN – The first domestically manufactured subway train was unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday, with 85 percent of the parts developed and made inside the country, despite sanctions on the domestic industry, ISNA reported.

Rural development projects create 262,000 jobs in 3 years

TEHRAN – Development projects implemented over the past three years have created more than 262,000 job opportunities in rural areas, Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari has said.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

More refugees in Iran under insurance coverage

TEHRAN – The number of refugees covered by social insurance services has increased by 20 percent in Iran, as 120,000 foreign nationals will be under the insurance coverage.

Iranian police seize $3b of smuggled goods, currency

TEHRAN – Smuggled goods and currency worth 126 trillion rials (nearly $3 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) have been discovered across the country over the past eleven months, Mohammad Reza Moghimi, the police chief, has announced.

National document drafted for water management, environment protection

TEHRAN – A national document for preserving water resources, managing drought, and soil erosion, and protecting the environment has been drafted by the vice president’s office for science and technology.

Tehran hosts meeting on environmental conventions

TEHRAN – The first technical cooperation committee meeting of the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions regional center was held in Tehran on Tuesday.

Women's Day: an opportunity to commemorate female victims of terrorism

The Second Meeting of "Empowerment of Women Victims of Terrorism; the Necessity for Future of Human" was held at Allameh Tabatabai University in-person and via webinar on Monday, paying tribute to women victims of terrorism.

Iran committed to intl. counter-narcotics goals

TEHRAN – Despite the difficult conditions caused by the global pandemic, Iran managed to discover 1,200 tons of narcotics in 2020, an increase of 41 percent compared to 2019, showing Iran’s adherence to international obligations, Eskandar Momeni, the director of headquarters for the fight against narcotics, said.

2,400 CBR centers inaugurated nationwide

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated 2,400 community-based rehabilitation (CBR) centers across the country through a video conference on Monday.

Major afforestation project inaugurated in Tehran

TEHRAN – An afforestation project across one thousand hectares area of land around the city of Tehran was inaugurated on Sunday, IRNA reported.

Education Ministry plans to promote tourism, preserve cultural heritage

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Education plans to develop students’ skills in the field of tourism and help them preserve cultural heritage.