Iranian female shooter Fatemeh Amini secured her place in the 2024 Olympic Games on Wednesday. The shooter stood in sixth place in the 10m air rifle with a score of 628.02 points in the Asian Championship 2024 Rifle / Pistol Jakarta.

Indian shooters Nancy and Elavenil Valarivan won gold and silver respectively and bronze medal went to China’s Yufan Shen.

The Asian championship started on Jan. 5 and will run until Jan. 17 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This edition is the 17th edition of the continental championship, and a total of 16 quotas for the Paris Olympic Games are up for grabs.

Amini’s berth is Iran’s 13th berth in Olympics so far.

This is the penultimate Paris Olympic qualification tournament which will offer quotas./T.T/

The vibrant and diverse range of global handicrafts and traditional arts is set to go on show at the 8th Fajr International Handicrafts & Traditional Arts Festival in Tehran.

Organized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the event is scheduled to run from February 16 to 20 at Tehran’s iconic Azadi Tower, IRNA reported.

According to organizers, the festival serves as a prestigious platform for master artisans to showcase their finest creations.

With a focus on design, technique, and the use of high-quality raw materials, the event aims to spotlight exemplary works of art while fostering healthy competition among participants, the organizers said.

So far, craftspeople and artisans from 15 countries have registered to exhibit their diverse array of traditional arts and handicrafts.

The event offers a unique opportunity for attendees to witness firsthand the rich artistic legacies and contemporary innovations in the realm of traditional arts.

At present, a total of 13 cities and three villages in Iran have been registered by the World Council of Handicrafts as “world cities of handicrafts”./T.T/

The 11th exhibition of Iranian-made laboratory equipment and materials named ‘IRAN LAB EXPO 2024’ opened in Tehran this morning and will wrap up on Friday, January 5.

Supported by the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, the international exhibition is showcasing 10,500 innovative products, IRNA reported.

A total of 366 technological companies are presenting their latest technological achievements, laboratory equipment, and advanced testing.

Moreover, some nine technological products of knowledge-based companies are planned to be unveiled during the exhibition.

The 2024 exhibition of Iranian-made laboratory equipment and materials will display Iran-made products in 14 thematic sections including “Oil and Petrochemical”; “Electricity”; “Electronics and Software”; “Civil and Construction”, “Mechanics”; “Chemistry and Metallurgy”; “Agriculture and Environment”; “Basic Physics”; “General Laboratory Equipment”; “Laboratory materials”; “Medical engineering and biomaterials”; “Industrial test equipment”; “Calibration services” and “Educational and laboratory equipment for schools” are among different sections of the technological exhibition.

Exporting laboratory equipment to neighboring countries on agenda

On December 30, Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy, Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi, said the country is planning to export laboratory equipment to neighboring countries.

Knowledge-based companies started to meet the country’s technological needs in the past decade, he said, adding that the Vice Presidency supported the companies to manufacture laboratory equipment, Mehr News Agency reported.

Now, various pieces of laboratory equipment are manufactured at prices much lower than the same foreign products, Dehqani-Firouzabadi noted.

Foreign delegations that attend Iranian exhibitions will be familiarized with the country’s capabilities, he said, adding that the export of knowledge-based products was $300 million in the year to March 2021, but increased to $600 million the year after.

The export has surged to $1.5 billion so far in the current Iranian calendar year and is forecast to hit $2 billion by the end of the year, he said.

Exports of medicine, medical equipment sharply rise

Iran has experienced a significant rise in exports of medicine and medical equipment in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year that started on March 21, 2023.

“Exports of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment grew by 300 percent in the first four months of the year,” IRNA quoted Heidar Mohammadi, the head of the Food and Drug Administration, as saying on August 13.

Last year, some 1,060 trillion rials (about $2.1 billion) worth of medicine and medical equipment were manufactured inside the country, he added.

Around 99 percent of the medicine supplied to the domestic market is produced by Iranian companies, he highlighted.

Iran plans to increase the exports of medicine to around $200 million in the current year from some $60 million last year, Mohammadi said in April.

Currently, the production of medicine, medical equipment, and powdered milk is supported by subsidies. So, their exports were very limited, but it is hoped that their exports will increase next year, he explained.

Referring to the shortage of 100 drug items in the country, he said: “Currently, nearly one and a half percent of the country’s pharmaceutical need is imported. Along with domestic production, it is done as soon as the domestic production meets the demand.”

A total of 227 knowledge-based firms are supplying medical equipment for health centers across the country, according to the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.

Iranian-made pharmaceuticals are currently exported to Canada, Japan, and Europe, Faramarz Ekhteraei, chairman of the Iranian Pharmaceutical Industries Syndicate said, emphasizing that 72 percent of the country’s pharmaceutical raw materials are domestically produced.

Some 40 percent of the country’s total pharmaceutical exports are biotechnology products, a member of the board of directors of the Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Medical Biotechnology Products said. /T.T/

Six Iranian films will go on screen at the 22nd edition of Pune International Film Festival, which will be held in the Indian city from January 18 to 25.

“Terrestrial Verses”, co-directed by Alireza Khatami and Ali Asgari, will go on screen at the main section of the festival.

The film begins with a controversy over the naming of an infant and moves through stories of everyday people facing off against the system, from a frustrated, politically censored filmmaker to a teenage girl who – in one of the film’s most daring episodes – confronts her school after being caught with a boy on a motorcycle.

“Winners” by Iranian-British director Hassan Nazer, “Achilles” by Farhad Delaram, “The Wastetown” by Ahmad Bahrami, “Dustland” by Kazem Daneshi, and “Ropewalker Memories” by Hamed Rajabi will be competing at the Global Cinema section of the event.

Set in a poor Iranian village, the story of “Winners” is about children who work hard to support their families. Their little hands scour through massive piles of junk in search of hidden treasures. One day, nine-year-old Yahya and his friend Leila find a precious golden statue. Sharing a passion for cinema, Yahya’s boss Nasser Khan decides to help them find the owner as the curious item leads Yahya on an adventure-filled journey that doubles as a loving ode to the history of Iranian cinema.

The 2023 drama, “Achilles”, tells the story of a young filmmaker who currently works in a hospital and takes a mental patient out for a short ride to find out who she really is. Now he has to decide whether to run away with her or take her back to the hospital.

The 98-minute “The Wastetown” tells the story of Bemani, a woman who has spent ten years in jail for killing her husband. Her child was taken away from prison and allegedly given to her husband’s family. Temporarily released, she immediately starts looking for her son.

“Dustland” is about truth and secrets. The truth carries a heavy burden, whether it is said that it sets off a storm, or it remains in the heart that disturbs man. Between telling the truth and revealing a secret or being silent and expedient, one is preferable to the other.

“Ropewalker Memories” is about a young man and his father, who share a close living arrangement in the same apartment. Despite his son’s objections, the father invites sex workers into their home. One day, he brings home a woman who refuses to leave. Both father and son join forces to persuade her to depart. However, when she finally departs of her own accord, her absence becomes unbearable for the two men.

The festival will also screen “Kiarostami at Work” by Seifollah Samadian at its documentary section.

A 2023 production, “Kiarostami at Work” is a 76-minute documentary about the late Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, which is directed, edited, and produced by Kiarostami’s longtime friend and collaborator Samadian.

“Kiarostami at Work” is a documentary showcasing the filmmaker’s boundless passion for work and creativity. The film features images captured by Samadian during their thirty years of friendship and travels together, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of “Shirin” and “Certified Copy” by the late Hamideh Razavi, and “Taste of Cherry” by Bahman Kiarostami. Juliette Binoche, Martin Scorsese, and some others have also shared insights into Kiarostami’s creative works in the movie. /T.T/

The animated short film “Legend” depicting the courage and heroism of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani will soon be unveiled. The short animation, produced and directed by Seyyed Mostafa Hosseini, will soon be released as the latest product from the Sureh Youth Cinema Center, Mehr reported on Saturday.

The film portrays the legendary figure that exists not in the pages of mythical history books, but in the contemporary era, the report added.

“Legend” utilizes the technique of comic motion and is presented in a 2D format, produced by a young team at Pouyano Studio in Mashhad.

It will be unveiled coinciding with the anniversary of the martyrdom of General Soleimani on January 3.

This 12-minute comic motion serves as the first animated work that describes the achievements and heroism of this commander on the path of faith and ideals.

Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani was a renowned Iranian military figure and a key strategist in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Born in 1957 in Qanat-e Malek, Iran, he dedicated his life to defending Iran’s interests. Soleimani played a pivotal role in numerous military operations, including the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He was widely respected for his strategic planning, leadership skills, and commitment to defending Iran against external threats.

Known as a charismatic and fearless commander, General Soleimani was revered by both his colleagues and the Iranian people. His unwavering dedication to protecting Iran’s security and sovereignty made him a symbol of strength and resilience.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including international sanctions and political tensions, Soleimani remained a crucial figure in Iran’s military and foreign policy. His assassination in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the region, as his loss was deeply mourned by Iranians and sparked a period of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. General Qasem Soleimani will always be remembered for his significant contributions to Iran’s defense and his lasting impact on the region’s geopolitical landscape. /T.T/

Based on the data released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Iran has been among the top exporters of 11 major agricultural products in the world during 2022, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Iran was the world’s top exporter of figs in the mentioned year, exporting 10,000 tons of the product in 2022. Austria and Uzbekistan occupied the second and third places, respectively.

The Islamic Republic was also the world’s second-biggest pistachio exporter in the year under review after the U.S. The country exported 45,000 tons of pistachios to foreign destinations in the mentioned year.

Iran was also ranked second in terms of the export of dates after Iraq. In 2022, Iranian farmers exported more than 269,000 tons of dates, while Iraq exported 274,000 tons of the mentioned product.

The Islamic Republic was also ranked third in terms of watermelon exports. The country exported 375,000 tons of watermelons in 2022.

As for the exports of eggplants, according to the FAO statistics, the country ranks third in the world after Spain, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

The country’s raisin exports stood at 63,000 tons in 2022, putting Iran at fifth place among the world’s top exporters of the said product. Turkey is in first place with 278,000 tons of exports, followed by Uzbekistan and the U.S.

Over 73,000 tons of kiwis were also exported from Iran in 2022, which was less than the exports of only five countries. New Zealand stood in first place in the world with the export of 89,000 tons of the mentioned product.

FAO statistics show that Iran also stood among the world’s top producers and exporters of many agricultural products in 2021.

Based on the FAO data, the Islamic Republic was the third-largest producer of dates, honey, pistachios, and walnuts in the world in 2021.

Iranian farmers produce 1.28 million tons of dates in the mentioned year, making the country the third-largest producer of this product in the world after Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Honey production in Iran was 80,000 tons in 2021, which was the highest honey production in a country after China and Turkey.

The Islamic Republic was also ranked third in the world in the production of walnuts with 356,000 tons of annual output. China stood in first place with 1.1 million tons of production and the United States was in second place.

Iran is also ranked fourth in terms of almond and watermelon production. The country’s almond production was reported to be 164,000 tons per year./T.T/

Yazd, a central Iranian city steeped in historical significance and cultural richness, has achieved a momentous honor by being designated as the tourism capital among member countries of the Asian Dialogue Forum (ACD) in 2024.

This significant announcement, marking Yazd as the nucleus for international discussions and collaborations within the ACD, stands as a testament to the city’s profound heritage and enduring allure.

Iran, presiding over the ACD since October 2023, witnessed Yazd’s triumph over candidates Kerman and Mashhad, solidifying its position as a beacon of cultural exchange and cooperative diplomacy.

With 35 member nations, the ACD remains a prominent platform fostering economic, social, and cultural growth since its establishment in 2002.

Yazd’s historical eminence, underscored by its UNESCO World Heritage status as the world’s premier adobe city, further enhances its newfound role. Renowned for its architectural marvels, Yazd encapsulates a tapestry of historical monuments, earning titles such as the “land of wind towers” among its many enchanting accolades.

This prestigious recognition propels Yazd onto the global stage, celebrating its legacy as a guardian of ancient traditions and a pivotal bridge for nurturing dialogue and collaboration among nations.

Yazd, a don’t miss destination

In July 2017, the historical core of Yazd was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Yazd is regularly referred to as a delightful place to stay, or a “don’t miss” destination by almost all of its visitors. The city is full of mudbrick houses that are equipped with innovative badgirs (wind catchers), atmospheric alleyways, and many Islamic and Iranian monuments that shape its eye-catching city landscape.

Cultural heritage experts believe that Yazd is a living testimony to the intelligent use of limited available resources in the desert for survival. Water is brought to the city by the qanat system. Each district of the city is built on a qanat and has a communal center. Furthermore, the use of earth in buildings includes walls and roofs through the construction of vaults and domes. Houses are built with courtyards below ground level, serving underground areas. Wind-catchers, courtyards, and thick earthen walls create a pleasant microclimate.

The historical core of Yazd is chockfull of mudbrick houses, bazaars, public bathhouses, water cisterns, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples, and centuries-old gardens. From the divine point of view, the city enjoys the peaceful coexistence of three religions: Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.

Yazd is home to numerous qanats which have supplied water to agricultural and permanent settlements for thousands of years. The man-carved underground qanat system relies on snow-fed streams flowing down the foothills of surrounding mountains. The earliest water supply to Yazd is estimated to date from the Sassanid era (224 to 651 CE). However, many others have been continually repaired and used over time, and most surviving Ab-Anbars (traditional mudbrick cisterns) can today be traced to the late Safavid and Qajar periods. /T.T/

Iran’s export of gas increased by 139 and 115 percent in value and volume respectively in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2023).

The country exported more than $2 billion worth of gas from March 21 to October 22, 2023, showing a 139 percent hike compared to last year’s corresponding period, according to the statistics of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI).

This is while Iran had exported more than $1 billion worth of gas overseas from March 21 to October 22, 2022, the TPOI added.

The TPOI noted that Iran exported 7.55 million tons of gas in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 to October 22, 2023), registering a 115-percent hike in weight compared to the same period last year.

The value of each ton of Iranian gas, which stood at $304 in 2022, increased to $336 in 2023, showing an 11-percent growth. /MNA/

Iran’s deputy minister of industry, mine, and trade for industries affairs put the number of companies manufacturing medical equipment and machinery at 1,100.

More than 100 medical equipment and machinery produced by these companies observe the requirements of the European standards, Mohammad Mousavi noted.

He pointed out that competent domestic companies have attained a high capability of manufacturing medical-related equipment observing the requirements of international standards.

Following a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi to Indonesia, Iranian companies exported a surgery robot to the Southeast Asian country, he said, adding that Iranian companies can export advanced medical equipment and machinery to other countries as well.

The time of delivery and quality of the product are the main two principles that should be taken into consideration in this field, the deputy industry minister emphasized.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mousavi pointed to the production of face masks and other medical supplies during the global coronavirus pandemic and noted that the domestic companies managed to meet the demands in this critical condition.

While Western countries had imposed tough sanctions against the country, especially in the field of medicines and medical equipment, the domestic companies managed to manufacture hi-tech medical equipment and machinery, he continued.

Presently, two Iranian companies are producing advanced ventilators (breathing machines), the deputy industry minister stated.

Efforts are ongoing to get a considerable share of the global markets in the field of manufacturing advanced medical equipment, he added. /MNA/

The number of foreign arrivals in Iran reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), which shows 48.5 percent compared to that of the last year.

“Iran’s tourism experienced a growth of 48.5% in the first eight months of this year, attracting 4.4 million and 400 thousand visitors motivated by trade, medical treatment, pilgrimage, and tourism,” Moslem Shojai, who presides over the ministry’s foreign tourism marketing and development office, said on Tuesday.

Data compiled by the tourism ministry suggests that 1.8 million visitors from West Asia traveled to Iran in the first seven months of this year, showing a growth of about 31% compared to the same period last year. This growth surpassed that of Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

He said some 258,000 visitors from Turkey arrived in the Islamic Republic in the first six months of this year which shows a 36% growth compared to the same period last year.

Moreover, countries within the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), including Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan, also saw a 55% growth with 1.1 million visitors in the first six months of this year, the official stated.

Referring to Chinese nationals, who enjoy visa-free travels to Iran, Shajai said: In the first six months of this year, the number of Chinese arrivals increased by 67% compared to the pre-pandemic period.

He said travel from Russia to Iran increased by approximately 14% with the entry of 21,200 people.

Despite reports from agencies indicating a decline in European tourist visits to Iran since last year. However, the official highlighted positive growth from some European countries.

“For instance, arrivals from Sweden experienced a 34% growth during the same period, accounting for about 6,600 visitors, including Iranian residents in Sweden traveling to Iran for tourism purposes.”

He put the number of German visitors to Iran at 12,000 in the first six months of this year, which is almost the same as the period last year.

Shojai highlighted notable growth in travel from India to Iran, with 31,000 visitors in the first six months of this year, experiencing a 25% growth compared to the same period last year.

Moreover, he emphasized that Iran’s tourism is not limited to a single market or specific type, as foreigners visit the country for various reasons including pilgrimage, medical treatment, trade, historical, and cultural interests.

Earlier this year, Ebrahim Pourfaraj, the former head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, said the number of inbound passengers has dramatically declined, suggesting that “hardly any tourists come to Iran, not even for free.”

According to available data, the Islamic Republic saw 3.35 million foreign arrivals in the first half of the current Iranian year, which soared 38 percent year on year.

Pursuing a border-easing scheme, the Iranian government mulls abolishing visa requirements for passport holders from 68 countries. The country seeks to encourage overseas travelers, though available evidence suggests it will not be finalized to be implemented shortly. Its tentative list includes Argentina, South Africa, Indonesia, Jordan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ecuador, Algeria, UAE, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Paraguay, Peru, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Turkmenistan.

Tunisia, Czech Republic, Russia, Romania, Japan, Ivory Coast, Singapore, Senegal, Sudan, Seychelles, Chile, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Finland, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Cameroon, Croatia, South Korea, Colombia, Comoros, Kuwait, Guinea, Poland, Luxembourg, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Hungary, Macedonia, Mexico, Mauritius, Mali, Madagascar, Niger, Vietnam, Yemen, Greece, and India constitute other states whose nationals may be granted visa-free access.

According to available data, Iran’s tourism had constantly been growing before the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching more than eight million visitors in the Iranian calendar year 1398 (started March 21, 2019). Based on the latest United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer, foreign tourist arrivals in Iran reached some 2.93 million between January and July 2023.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 27 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. /T.T/