Unilateral coercive measures may hamper global efforts to combat pandemic: Iran’s health minister

TEHRAN – Unilateral coercive measures may not only hamper effective interventions in combating the pandemic but in general terms, will hinder our global goals and regional commitment to achieve Universal Health Coverage, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said.

Armed forces support health sector in battling COVID-19

TEHRAN – As the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the whole country, fifty-six hospitals belonging to the armed forces have been equipped to exclusively admit patients infected with the coronavirus.

National mental health week starts amid pandemic

TEHRAN - The national mental health week is being observed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and with a focus on “Mental health for all: more investment - more access for all, everywhere”.

Turkish Airlines resumes flights to Tehran after six months halt

TEHRAN – Following months of ups and downs, Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines resumed its flights to Tehran on Saturday after six months of suspension over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bahram Gharavi among top ten artists at Poland’s Art Moves festival on pandemic

TEHRAN – Iranian graphic designer Bahram Gharavi Manjili has been selected as one of the top ten artists at the 13th edition of Art Moves – the International Festival of Art on Billboards now underway in Torun, Poland.

By Afshin Majlesi

The future of travel in Iran

Ubiquitous face masks, partitions, social distances, customer-service protocols, not-yet-fulfilled refunds, and self-quarantined at home on a mass scale, as well as closed borders, canceled events, and changing policies challenge tourism industry insiders to forecast what the lingering impact of the novel coronavirus could be on the way we travel.

Responsible tourism a workable solution for coronavirus era: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister has said that responsible tourism is a workable solution for holidaymakers to get assured of safe traveling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Iranian craftspeople, businesses incur $452m loss due to coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister on Thursday said that the handicrafts industry and related businesses across the country have suffered a loss of 19,000 billion rials (some $452 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trade via Mehran border increases

TEHRAN- Trade between Iran and Iraq has increased via Mehran border crossing, according to the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).

Konkur kicks off amid pandemic

The national university entrance exam is being held under health protocols

TEHRAN – Iran’s national university entrance exam (Konkur) started on Wednesday under health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will run through August 22.

Coronavirus costs Iran’s tourism $2.8b so far, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Monday.

Coronavirus-crippled tourism industry needs national support to rebound: official

TEHRAN – The domestic tourism industry crippled by the coronavirus pandemic needs national support to make a rebound, deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said.

Tehran Municipality to dedicate cultural centers to Muharram mourning rituals during pandemic

TEHRAN – The Art and Cultural Organization of the Tehran Municipality plans to dedicate courtyards of its cultural centers to Muharram mourning ceremonies amid the pandemic.

Iran Cinema Celebration avoids gala over pandemic 

TEHRAN – The Iranian House of Cinema will not be holding the 22nd edition of Iran Cinema Celebration like previous years, while it plans to spend the costs for its members instead. 

Despite resuming flights UAE not issuing visas for Iranians: report

TEHRAN – The United Arab Emirates is not issuing visas for Iranian nationals although its flag career Emirates has resumed flights to/from the Iranian capital Tehran after some six months of halt over the coronavirus pandemic, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

Coronavirus: 138 healthcare workers in Iran lose lives

TEHRAN - COVID-19 pandemic has taken the lives of 138 healthcare workers so far in Iran, most of whom were doctors and physicians, Hossein Kermanpour, the director of public relations of Medical Council, has announced.

‘Customized tourism’ essential in coronavirus era, expert says

TEHRAN – The promotion of “customized tourism” is essential as the coronavirus pandemic has nearly shut down the travel sector, Iranian professor Mohammad-Taqi Toghraei said on Monday.

Iran extends ban on group tours in bid to contain coronavirus   

TEHRAN – Iran has decided to extend a ban on inbound group tours as the country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri said on Sunday. However, travel agencies can organize business tours for individuals, he added, ISNA reported.

Art, cultural activities in Tehran shut down again over rise in coronavirus infections

TEHRAN – The activities of all art and cultural centers across Tehran have been shut down for one week due to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths, the Coronavirus Control Operations Headquarters announced on Tuesday.

Official says drive-in cinema continues despite reopening of theaters  

TEHRAN – The director of the drive-in movie theater project in the provinces of Tehran and Alborz, Manuchehr Safarkhani, has said that despite the reopening of movie theaters, the project continues as COVID-19 still rules the country.

New movies to hit silver screens amid pandemic 

TEHRAN – Three new movies will hit silver screens across Iran this Wednesday while the death toll from COVID-19 has risen in the country over the past ten days.

Lorestan province to hold fam tour despite pandemic

TEHRAN – Lorestan tourism department is scheduled to hold a familiarization tour in a bid to promote traveling to the western province.

Iran setting rules to resume foreign tourist arrivals amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The ministries of tourism and health in close collaboration with several other government bodies are defining a series of rules for admitting foreign travelers to the country amid a standstill in the global tourism industry caused mainly by the coronavirus.

Storyteller Susan Maqsudlu to release podcasts of classical Persian tales

Filmgoing less risky than other activities in pandemic: “No Place for Angels” director 

TEHRAN – Sam Kalantari, the director of the acclaimed documentary “No Place for Angels” about the national Iranian women’s hockey team, has said that the risk of going to movie theaters is less than many other activities during the pandemic. 

Iranian airlines start selling Tehran-Istanbul tickets

TEHRAN – Some Iranian airline companies have resumed selling tickers for Tehran-Istanbul flights, the secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines has said.

Iran ‘has earned plaudits’ to ease COVID-19 impact on tourism, UNWTO says

TEHRAN – The United Nations World Tourism Organization has praised efforts made by Iran's tourism ministry to manage the travel industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran likely to resume flights to Turkey on June 20 after 3-month suspension

TEHRAN – Flights to Turkey will likely be resumed on June 20 after nearly three months of suspension over the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior Iranian aviation official was quoted as saying by Press TV on Sunday.

All Iranian airports shielded against virus pandemic: EASA

TEHRAN – The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has recently published a list of airports worldwide it has concluded being shielded against the coronavirus outbreak, evaluating “all airports” in Iran as safe.

By Javad Heirannia

Pandemic effect on U.S. economy will be very important factor in 2020 elections, says ex-UK ambassador to UN 

TEHRAN – Peter Jenkins, the former UK ambassador to the IAEA and UN, says that the effect which the pandemic has had on the U.S. economy will be a very important factor in the November elections.