Secretary of Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council Emad Ahmadvand said that the country’s export of nano-products in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19) increased 110 percent compared to a year earlier.

As IRIB reported, Iranian producers exported $145 million of nanotechnology products in the mentioned year, according to Ahmadvand.

Iran had exported $69 million worth of nanotechnology products between March 21, 2022, to March 21, 2023, he noted.

The official said the total value of Iran’s nano-products in the previous year stood at $1.62 billion, of which about 91 percent was sold in domestic markets and only nine percent was exported.

Ahmadvand further pointed out that sales of nano-made products in Iran in 2023 increased by 104 percent compared to 2022.

The nano-coating technologies, nano-composites, and nano-catalysts accounted for the major share of the domestic market, he added.

Presently, Iranian-made nanotechnology products are exported to 49 countries in the world, of which about 60 percent is exported to Iraq, Syria, India, China, and Turkey, the secretary of Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council pointed out./ T.T/

The traditional art of Ghalamzani, the intricate craft of engraving beautiful designs on metals such as copper, brass, silver, and gold, has been recognized with an international Geographical Indication (GI). This prestigious recognition highlights Isfahan as the primary hub for this ancient craft.

Majd-al-Din Taj, the head of the Handicrafts Union of Isfahan, announced the news on Sunday, stating that this global registration is a major achievement for Isfahan’s artisans.

He noted that one of the longstanding concerns of the region’s craft community has been the efforts by other countries to claim certain traditional Iranian crafts and cultural assets as their own. Taj referenced similar disputes, such as with the game of Chogan (polo) and iconic figures like Rumi, an illustrious Persian poet of the 13th-century poet

“This recognition has been a priority for the Handicrafts Union of Isfahan,” Taj explained. “We prepared and defended the necessary proposals, with financial support provided by the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce to cover the costs involved.”

Taj elaborated on the process for GI registration, stating that a craft must first be recognized nationally with a geographical registration before being eligible for global recognition.

“In the past two and a half years, 20 handicraft fields from Isfahan province have received national geographical registrations. The union is now focused on pursuing international recognition for these crafts.”

With the international GI for Ghalamzani, this ancient art joins other globally recognized crafts from Isfahan, including Minakari (enamel work), Qalamkar (block printing on fabric), and Kashi Haft-Rang (seven-colored tilework). This marks the fourth craft from Isfahan to achieve this status.

Taj emphasized the significance of GI status for both artisans and the industry. “The first benefit is that it confirms the authenticity of the craft, ensuring that it is indeed created by our talented artists in Isfahan and Iran,” he said.

Taj added that the recognition also provides marketing and branding advantages, addressing a long-standing issue where countries like Turkey and some Persian Gulf states have sold Iranian handicrafts under their own names.

To further safeguard the authenticity of the artworks, the Handicrafts Union will provide artisans with hologram stickers to be affixed to recognized products. Additionally, the union’s website will feature details about each registered craft, including the artist’s name, further promoting the link between the craft and its origin in Isfahan.

GI is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town or region). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product’s source, is intended as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.

Persian expertise for engraving metal objects

Ghalamzani is the splendid art of engraving superb designs on various kinds of metals such as copper, brass, silver, and gold by the means of carving chisels.

It seems that the history of engraving has not been too far from the time when man discovered and used the metals. The ancient samples are being kept in the National Museum of Iran and other ones across the globe, some dating 3000 years.

Isfahan’s ancient art of Ghalamzani gains international recognition

Isfahan has long been the main hub for ancient expertise, where artists make a range of gold and silver dishes stunningly decorated with animals and scenes of hunting.

A typical artist meticulously uses a chisel and hammer to carve out every detail to engrave vivid scenes. Experts say the artistic movement of the engraver’s hand and the harmonized blows of the hammer and engraving tool will be finally led to creating a unique job.

However, the material will be decorated and embellished after it has already been shaped by another talented artist using a hammer and anvil.

Modern-day metal dish preparation is occasionally handled by machinery due to the difficult work and advancing age of the masters.

Following the artist’s completion of the pattern drawing, the back of the piece is coated with tar and baked along with other materials. Next, the main lines of the design are traced using carving chisels. From this point on, it may take the artist weeks or even months to complete the design, which was once just an idea in his head.

Every piece is meticulously made, requiring the artists to have a great deal of skill, talent, and patience.

Many materials and tools, including chisels, hammers, instruments made by hand, etc. are used by the artisans to emboss and engrave the most intricate and complex designs on different kinds of metals.

Various natural scenes, human and animal forms, floral and plant patterns, hunting grounds, etc. Some of the numerous beautiful images that have been meticulously hand-carved into various types of Ghalamzani pieces include and.

In addition to applying heat, other techniques used to create these works of art include the use of waxes, dyes, sanding, and polishing. The beautiful Ghalamzani handicrafts come in the form of ornamental trays, plates, vases, pitchers, and other utensils. /T.T/

A prehistorical cave has recently been discovered in the Siahkalrud rural district of Rudsar county, which is situated in Gilan province, northern Iran. The cave is a significant find, being the first of its kind situated in a forested area just five kilometers from the Caspian Sea, Veli Jahani, the provincial tourism chief, said on Friday.

The official explained that the cave measures approximately 25 meters in length, and three meters in width, and varies in height from one to three meters due to its unique topography.

Jahani noted that the entrance of the cave appears to be artificially carved, although further studies are needed to confirm this.

The cave’s advantageous location near the Caspian coastline, within the Hyrcanian forests and adjacent to a flowing river, adds to its significance. Preliminary assessments suggest that the cave dates back to prehistoric times.

Jahani emphasized that more detailed studies and research are required to provide accurate assessments of the cave’s historical context.

He also highlighted that Gilan is home to over 150 caves, several of which have been registered as national heritage sites, with many being promoted as tourist attractions in recent years.

The lush green province, which is bounded by the Caspian Sea, is a historically and culturally rich region that offers visitors a diverse range of experiences. With its mild climate, lush greenery, majestic mountains, and stunning coastline, Gilan is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination in northern Iran.

Gilan is also known for its beautiful natural scenery and exotic wildlife. The stunning waterfront of the Anzali lagoon, the majestic Talesh mountains, and the verdant rice paddies are just a few of the natural wonders that attract visitors to the region. /T.T/

The Director General of International Affairs at the Ministry of Health says that the Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved 99% self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical production.

Mohammad Hossein Niknam made the remarks in a closed session on “The impact of economic sanctions on health and health services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region” on the sidelines of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71).

He stated that Iran produces 99 percent of its pharmaceutical needs and is working on developing major vaccines to counteract the effects of unilateral sanctions, adding that these products have advanced production systems and necessary quality guarantees.

Despite humanitarian exemptions for medicines and medical equipment from unilateral sanctions, their delivery to Iran is hindered by the impact of sanctions on financial and commercial activities, transportation and insurance companies, restrictions on international payments, and strict compliance by foreign companies and suppliers, he underlined.

He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently hosting over 5 million refugees and migrants, the majority of whom are Afghans requiring humanitarian assistance. Although approximately 80 percent of them lack legal residency documents, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing comprehensive policies, including providing access to primary health care and education.

Niknam pointed out the economic repercussions of sanctions, financial transaction restrictions, and reduced interest from funders on the government and humanitarian organizations’ ability to carry out projects including providing essential goods and constructing schools and health centers.

Considering the special emphasis of the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on “improving access to affordable medical products by providing efficient supply chains at the regional and national levels”, as one of the flagship projects announced, he said, adding that the establishment of a safe and sustainable mechanism by the WHO to ensure equitable and equal access of countries to health goods can be an important step towards reducing the destructive effects of sanctions.

The 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71) was held in Doha, Qatar. /MNA/

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) director for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) has called Iran’s health sector a role model in the region.

WHO EMRO is interested in expanding cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, IRNA quoted Hanna Hasan Balkhi as saying.

The official made the remarks in a meeting with Alireza Raeisi, the Iranian deputy health minister, and Mohammad-Hossein Niknam, the deputy health minister for international affairs, on the sidelines of the Seventy-first session of the WHO EMRO.

A delegation led by Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi participated in the seventy-first session of the WHO EMRO which was held in Doha, Qatar, from October 14 to 17.

“During my short visit to Iran a few months ago, I became familiar with the capabilities of Iran in the health sector; Iran is a role model in health in the region,” Balkhi noted.

“Utilizing full potentials available in the [regional] countries is essential for us, and we will not hesitate to support the implementation of health programs,” the official noted.

Raeisi, for his part, enumerated priorities in the country’s health sector, namely completing the implementation of the family physician program and the electronic health record program.

Referring to non-communicable diseases as another important issue in the health sector, the official said, “Unfortunately, due to the crises in West Asia, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases has increased, and the onset age of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity has lowered.

Therefore, we are planning to control the risk factors from childhood through old age. To achieve the goal, we need to develop plans in cooperation with the World Health Organization.”

EMRO annual meeting

The annual meeting of the member countries of EMRO is one of the most important regional events in which Ministers of health and high-level representatives of the 22 Member States and territories of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, as well as representatives of partner organizations and civil society, will meet to discuss priority public health issues, make decisions, and regulations.

During the session, Balkhi was scheduled to present her regional vision for the endorsement of Member States. The vision, which aims to secure the best attainable level of health for everyone in the region, includes 3 flagship initiatives: expanding timely and equitable access to life-saving medicines and vaccines; building a more resilient health workforce, and reducing the morbidity, mortality, and social costs associated with substance use disorders.

The Regional Strategic Operational Plan describes what WHO aims to achieve in the coming 4 years in response to country priorities, and how it will do it.

The Regional Committee also included discussions of priority public health issues, technical papers, updates, and a wide range of panel discussions and side events.

Addressing the seventy-first session of WHO EMRO, Raeisi called on the WHO to establish a working group to address the impacts of unilateral coercive measures on health in the region and to develop possible solutions consistent with basic human rights.

The official further noted coercive sanctions have denied nations the right to access essential medicines and medical tools.

He also highlighted the significance of sharing precise data as well as having a collective commitment to universal health coverage to overcome the challenges in the region.

“To promote regional health, it is essential to identify the capacities, capabilities, and successful strategies in the region,” Raeisi noted.

The official also underscored the importance of political and social leaders’ commitments to public health, strengthening the global leadership of the World Health Organization, recognizing health as the basic ‘public good’, ensuring equal access to health for all countries, and enhancing the role of the World Health Organization in facilitating the share of knowledge and technology to all member states regardless of any political and economic barriers. / T.T/

Iran national football team earned a vital win in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifier, beating Qatar 4-1 in Dubai’s Rashid Stadium on Tuesday. Almoez Ali was on target for Qatar in the 17th minute but his goal canceled out by Sardar Azmoun in the 42nd minute.

Azmoun needed just three minutes to find the back of the net thanks to a mistake from Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.

He then assisted on Mohammad Mohebbi’s goal in the 66th minute.

Iran’s substitutes Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Shahriar Moghanlou scored but their goals were ruled out for offside.

Mohebbi completed his brace in stoppage time with a header inside the area.

Team Melli went top of Group A with 10 points thanks to a better goal difference than Uzbekistan, who had defeated the UAE 1-0 earlier in the day. /T.T/

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 has placed 85 Iranian universities among the top institutions compared to 75 universities in 2024.

The 2025 rankings include 2,092 ranked universities from 115 countries. There are 185 new entries compared with last year.

Recognized as the world’s most comprehensive evaluation of university performance, the latest methodology includes 18 carefully calibrated indicators to assess institutions across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

Sharif University of Technology is ranked first in the country with a global ranking of 301-350.

Amirkabir University of Technology, and Iran University of Science and Technology (ranking globally 351 –400) are placed second.

Kermanshah University of Medical Science, and University of Tehran are placed third with a global ranking of 401- 500.

Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Shiraz University of Technology, and Tehran University of Technology are ranked joint fourth, they ranked 601-800, globally.

Three new countries join the top 200 – Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – highlighting the rise of emerging markets in higher education.

Oxford holds on to the top spot for the ninth consecutive year.

Massachusetts Institutes of Technology rises to second place, overtaking Stanford, which drops to sixth, and Harvard University ranked third.

Latest rankings

A total of 100 universities from Iran were ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence.

The rankings were determined by analyzing 14.9 m citations received by 1.26 m academic publications made by 310 universities from Iran, the popularity of 867 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

This year, 14131 universities from 183 countries were ranked across 246 topics.

According to the report University of Tehran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Sharif University of Technology were the best universities in the country, IRIB reported.

The Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities, also known as the National Taiwan University (NTU) Rankings, placed 21 Iranian institutions among the top 1,200 universities worldwide, compared to 18 universities in 2023.

University of Tehran won the best ranking among Iranian institutions, ranking 291 globally.

University of Tehran ranked 30 in chemical engineering as well as energy science and engineering, 34 in mechanical engineering, and 73 in agriculture.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences (with a global ranking of 359), Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences ( 491), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences(540), and Tarbiat Modarres University (577) were placed second to fifth, respectively.

Tehran University of Medical Science’s best ranking globally was 22 in pharmacology and toxicology.

Moreover, Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology and Yasouj University were among the top 1200 institutions in the world based on full-time academic staff.

The 2024-2025 edition of Best Global Universities rankings included 69 Iranian universities, up from 52 in 2023, among the world’s 2,250 top universities.

These institutions from 104 countries were ranked based on 13 indicators that measure their academic research performance and their global and regional reputations which helps students to explore the higher education options that exist beyond their own countries’ borders and to compare key aspects of schools’ research missions.

University of Tehran (with a global ranking of 275), Islamic Azad University (374), Sharif University of Technology and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (516), University of Tabriz (521), and Amirkabir University of Technology (649) ranked first to fifth in the country, respectively.

Shanghai ranking 2024 placed nine Iranian universities among the top 1,000 institutions worldwide.

The 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) was released by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.

Since 2003, ARWU has been presenting the world’s top universities annually based on transparent methodology and objective third-party data. It has been recognized as the precursor of global university rankings and the most trustworthy one.

This year, more than 2,500 institutions were scrutinized, and the best 1,000 universities in the world were published.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences and University of Tehran, which were among the top 500 universities in the world with a rank of 401–500, were placed top in the country.
Tarbiat Modares University (601–700) was placed second.

Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti of Medical Sciences, and Sharif University of Technology with a ranking of 701-800, shared the third rank in the country.

Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, and University of Tabriz (901 –1000) were ranked joint fourth.

According to data released by Web of Science (WoS), Iran’s ranking in Quantum Science and Technology publications improved from 23 in 2014 to 16 in 2023, placing the country top among Islamic nations in all quantum technology fields.

Iran’s best global ranking was in quantum remote sensing technology. The country was ranked eighth worldwide.

The country’s other global ranking included photonic network technologies, 17; superconducting circuits, 18; spin qubit, 16; neutral (cold) atoms, 21; Trapped ions, 19; quantum key distribution, 24; quantum repeater, 26; quantum clock, 12; quantum imaging, 14; and quantum radar, 15.

The Times Higher Education (THE) included 33 universities from Iran among the top 1,500 universities pursuing sustainable development goals (SDG) compared to 27 universities in 2023.

THE evaluated 2,152 universities from 125 countries to produce the overall Impact Ranking for 2024.

A total of 29 Iranian universities were mentioned in the overall table including Alzahra University, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Kerman University of Medical Sciences (ranking 401- 600); Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, and University of Tehran (ranking 601 -800); Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Sharif University of Technology, University of Kurdistan, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ranking 801-1000), Mehr news agency reported.

Amirkabir University of Technology and Sharif University of Technology achieved the highest ranking in industry innovation and infrastructure, placing 27th. / T.T/

The value of Iran’s non-oil exports to Russia rose 12 percent in the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-September 21) compared to last year’s first half, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) data showed.

According to the mentioned data, Iran exported 1.3 million tons of commodities worth over $494 million to Russia in the first half of the current Iranian year, IRIB reported.

Non-oil exports to the Russian Federation also increased by 20 percent in terms of weight.

The main exported goods to Russia in the first half of this year include bell pepper, polystyrene and shelled pistachios, which accounted for 5.9 percent, 5.8 percent and 4.9 percent of the country’s total export value, respectively.

In the first half of the current Iranian year, foreign transit through Iran from Russia reached 526,000 tons with a growth of 17 percent, and foreign transit to Russia was 56,000 tons, which decreased by 18 percent.

The Islamic Republic had exported 2.2 million tons of commodities worth $965 million to Russia in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20), which also registered a 54-percent increase in weight and a 28-percent rise in value.

The main Iranian products exported to Russia in the previous year were fresh or dried pistachios, ordinary non-expandable polystyrene, fresh kiwi and synthetic fibers, and other types of polyester.

Iran and Russia have been taking serious steps to boost their mutual trade over the past few years.

In late January, Iran’s late President Ebrahim Raisi said that the Islamic Republic and Russia have reached an agreement to boost the trade between the two countries up to $10 billion.

“We agreed to remove trade barriers and boost the economic exchanges between the two countries. Currently, the level of mutual trade is not acceptable, so the two countries agreed to increase trade to $10 billion a year,” Raisi said on January 21, upon arrival to Tehran after a two-day visit to Moscow.

He also noted that the two sides also discussed monetary and banking issues during his talks with Russian officials.

The two countries also agreed to identify mutual agricultural capacities as well as suitable areas for the exchange of agricultural products in order to increase the level of trade in the agricultural sector, according to the official.

He went on to say that the Islamic Republic of Iran has very good capacities in the field of transit and transportation, saying: “During this visit, it was agreed to activate the north-south corridor. This transit route will make the time and distance of transiting goods from Russia and different northern countries to the southern regions much shorter.” / T.T/

Iranian female rower Zeinab Norouzi has won a gold medal in the 2024 Asian Rowing Championships underway in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Norouzi crossed the finish line first with a time of 8:02.721 in the lightweight women’s single-scull rowing event.

Her rivals from Uzbekistan and Hong Kong were awarded the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

The 2024 Asian Rowing Championships are taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 10th to 14th.   /MNA/

Iran’s hypersonic missiles can reach Israel within 4 minutes. The Israeli regime’s Iron Dome, which proved to be incapable of intercepting the cruise missiles Iran used in Operation True Promise I, once again showed its ineffectiveness when it tried to counter Iranian-made Qadr and Emad ballistic missiles.

Although the Israeli regime allies’ fighters were able to support the Zionists by firing interceptor missiles toward hundreds of cruise missiles and drones launched by Iran, in Operation True Promise II, the ballistic missiles, as well as hypersonic missiles with a speed of Mach 14, made defense attempts of the Zionists and their supporters very ineffective, Iran newspaper wrote.

Iran launched a retaliatory attack on occupied Palestine with a barrage of its homegrown missiles on Tuesday night, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) saying that 90% of them hit the targets.

The operation came in response to the regime’s assassinations of Hamas’ chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforooshan.

Iranian Defense Minister says that the target of Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel was an intelligence headquarters and 3 of the Tel Aviv regime’s military bases.

“Operation True Promise II was carried out with more than 90% success and was fully in line with international law,” he said.

No civilian sites were among Iran’s targets, he stressed.

MNA/