Persian painter Mehrzaman Fakhar-Monfared dies from coronavirus 

TEHRAN – Prominent Iranian painter Mehrzaman Fakhar-Monfared, who was most famous for her skills in the gol-o-morgh genre of Persian painting, died from COVID-19 in Tehran on Thursday. She was 68.

Tehran-based Afghan writer Mohammad-Sarvar Rajai passes away from COVID-19

TEHRAN – Mohammad-Sarvar Rajai, the Afghan author of the acclaimed books “From Leili Desert to Majnun Island” and “Mission of God” who lived for over 27 years in Iran, died of COVID-19 on Thursday in Tehran. He was 52.

New batches of Sputnik, AstraZeneca vaccines imported

TEHRAN – Two consignments of Sputnik V and AstraZeneca vaccines supplied by Russia and Japan were imported on Friday and Thursday, respectively.

COVID-19 causes $7.6b damage to Iran tourism

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism industry has suffered a loss of some 320 trillion rials ($7.6 billion at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, ISNA reported on Tuesday. 

Zarif meets with Cuba's Finlay president to facilitate vaccine production

TEHRAN — Dr. Vicente Verez Bencomo, president of the Cuban Finlay Vaccine Production Institute, who has traveled to Tehran, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday.

Pastu Covac is world’s only vaccine targeting several mutations: expert

TEHRAN – Pastu Covac coronavirus vaccine, developed jointly by the Pasteur Institute of Iran and Cuba's Finlay Vaccine Institute, is the only vaccine in the world that can fight several mutations simultaneously, Alireza Biglari, head of the Pasteur Institute, has said.

Iran thanks Japan for Covid vaccines

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi has thanked Japan for providing Iran with millions of free coronavirus vaccines. 

Iranian-Australian 'Spicogen' COVID-19 vaccine passes second trial phase

TEHRAN – Spicogen, a coronavirus vaccine developed by Iranian and Australian researchers, has successfully passed the second trial phase in Iran and is ready for the third trial phase.

187 passengers quarantined at borders due to COVID-19

TEHRAN – A total of 187 passengers, who had tested positive, have so far been temporarily quarantined under a plan to rapidly identify suspected cases of coronavirus and prevent the spread of new strains.

Japan, China to deliver new shipments of COVID-19 vaccines to Iran

TEHRAN – Iran will receive new consignments of coronavirus vaccines from Japan and China over the next few days.

Iran hopes to start testing mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine by mid-Sept.

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian experts is working on an mRNA coronavirus vaccine that is being developed based on nanoliposome technology, hoping to start its clinical trial phase by mid-September.

Brief

Top artworks on pandemic honored at Jihad Narration Art Festival 

TEHRAN – Top artworks on COVID-19 were honored during the closing ceremony of the Jihad Narration Art Festival at the Sureh Hall of the Art Bureau on Monday evening.

Unprecedented migration of Afghans triggers new wave of COVID-19 in SE Iran: MP

TEHRAN- An unprecedented and illegal migration of Afghan people to the province of Sistan-Baluchestan, southeastern Iran, has triggered a new wave of coronavirus in the country, MP Esmaeil Hossein-Zehi said on Monday.

Second Iranian coronavirus vaccine gets emergency use license

TEHRAN - The Pastu Covac vaccine, developed by the Pasteur Institute of Iran, has received an emergency use license, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Wednesday.

Second year into pandemic: national university entrance exam kicks off

TEHRAN – As the COVID-19 pandemic still poses a serious challenge, Iran’s national university entrance exam (Konkur) started on Wednesday under health protocols and will run through July 3.

Tribespeople to be vaccinated against coronavirus in four months

TEHRAN – All the tribespeople aged above 18 will be vaccinated against coronavirus by the end of the eighth calendar month Aban (November 21), deputy health minister Alireza Raisi said.

IRGC starts clinical trial of “Noora” coronavirus vaccine

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) started the first phase of the clinical trial of its domestically-made "Noora" coronavirus vaccine on Sunday, IRIB reported.

Rouhani lauds Leader for receiving Iranian vaccine

TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday praised the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for insisting on being vaccinated against the coronavirus by a vaccine produced by Iranian scientists, saying this action has inspired Iranian scientists and demonstrated the Leader's support for science and technology.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

National glory

Leader: I did not want to use non-Iranian vaccines, because we should respect this national honor.

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received the first dose of the homegrown coronavirus vaccine (COVIRAN BAREKAT) on Friday, showing trust to domestic production and national capability.

Ayatollah Khamenei receives first dose of Iranian-made coronavirus vaccine

TEHRAN – On Friday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received the first dose of the Iranian-made COVIRAN BAREKAT vaccine against the coronavirus pandemic.

12 Asian, South American, European countries seeking Iranian COVID-19 vaccine

TEHRAN – Eleven countries from Asia and South America, and a European country have asked for importing Iranian-made coronavirus vaccine (COVIRAN BAREKAT), Hassan Jalili, the vaccine’s production manager, said on Wednesday.

Impact of coronavirus on World Heritage will be felt for years, UNESCO says

TEHRAN - The global coronavirus outbreak is the sort of disaster whose effects on World Heritage sites will last for years to come, according to a study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Iranian vaccine 6 times more effective than AstraZeneca against mutated virus

TEHRAN – The Pastu Covac vaccine has shown a 62 percent efficiency on new variants of coronavirus first emerged in South Africa and Brazil, 6 times more effective than the AstraZeneca vaccine, Health Minister Saeed Namaki announced on Monday.

Bolsonaro faces calls to resign as Covid deaths mount in Brazil

Massive protests have erupted in Brazil against President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari tourism loses $90m from COVID-19 

TEHRAN – The tourism industry of the southwestern Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province has taken over 3.7 trillion rials ($90 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) hit from the coronavirus outbreak so far.

72 passengers infected with COVID-19 quarantined

TEHRAN – A total of 72 passengers who have tested positive for coronavirus have been quarantined at border facilities, Mehdi Valipour, head of Relief and Rescue Organization affiliated with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), said on Wednesday.