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Iran biotech excellence reshaping economy, defying sanctions

Iran’s pursuit of self-reliance has taken a decisive turn in recent years, not just in politics or energy, but in science—particularly in biotechnology.

Under the weight of longstanding sanctions and restrictions, the country has begun to harness the power of science and innovation to reduce its dependence on foreign imports, improve public health, and safeguard food security.

In doing so, Iran is reimagining its economic future, moving from an oil-dependent model to one increasingly defined by knowledge-based industries. Biotechnology is now at the heart of this transformation.

What once began as a scientific curiosity has matured into a key strategic asset. With investment and institutional support, Iran has developed capabilities in health biotechnology that rival many advanced economies.

The country has built a foundation for producing critical medical goods domestically, at a time when access to many foreign pharmaceutical products remains limited.

One of the most prominent examples is the localization of insulin and plasma production. These two essential medical inputs, until recently fully imported, accounted for more than $300 million in annual foreign currency spending.

The government has set a two-year target to complete full domestic production capacity for both, with the aim of not only cutting costs but also reducing vulnerability in the healthcare system.

This shift is not merely economic; it represents a broader national strategy of resilience. In a country where economic pressure is constant, science has become a tool of sovereignty.

Stem cell therapy is one such example. In 2025, Iran reached eighth place globally in stem cell research and treatment, Secretary of the Biotechnology, Health, and Medical Technologies Headquarters, Mostafa Ghane’i, announced on Sunday.

Clinics offering advanced treatments, such as those using plasma technology for wound care, are now opening across the country, offering more equitable access to cutting-edge health solutions.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced the operation of nine such clinics, including five new centers opened on Sunday.

At the same time, biotechnology is helping Iran look outward. Although the country’s exports have long been dominated by oil and gas, biotech is carving out a growing role.

Official export figures in this field hover around $200 million annually, but experts suggest that the true number, including informal or unregistered trade, may be significantly higher—perhaps even approaching half a billion dollars.

Iran currently exports biotechnology products to at least 17 countries, largely in the region. Its unique infrastructure for the production of recombinant drugs and other advanced biologics gives it a competitive advantage in West and Central Asia, where such capabilities are limited.

In this context, biotechnology is proving to be more than a scientific success. It is becoming a diplomatic and economic tool.

Iran’s homegrown biotech products, from vaccines to biosimilar drugs, are increasingly sought after by neighboring countries, particularly those looking for affordable alternatives to Western pharmaceuticals.

These exports, while modest in size compared to oil, have strategic weight. They demonstrate that even under sanctions and financial restrictions, Iran can offer the region high-value goods based on domestic innovation.

But biotechnology’s impact extends beyond laboratories and hospitals. Iran has also turned to this science to tackle one of its most urgent challenges: food security.

In recent years, environmental pressures, climate change, and population growth have put a strain on the country’s agricultural system. In response, Iran has embraced genetic engineering and biotechnology to improve crop yields, reduce import dependence, and ensure that its food supply remains stable.

From developing drought-resistant crops to reducing reliance on imported livestock inputs, the country is attempting to modernize its agricultural sector using tools that many advanced economies have long embraced.

Policymakers see this not only as an economic issue but as a matter of national security. Food, like medicine, has become a geopolitical tool, and Iran is working to ensure that its population is never at the mercy of foreign suppliers.

Investments in agricultural biotechnology are already showing results, and continued research and innovation in this area are now considered essential components of Iran’s broader development goals.

Underpinning these efforts is a clear strategic vision. In its national development documents, Iran has laid out an ambitious target to have technology, including biotechnology, contribute 7 percent to its gross domestic product in the near future.

Institutions like the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, along with research universities and private knowledge-based firms, are now playing central roles in achieving this goal. The focus is on building an innovation ecosystem that turns scientific breakthroughs into commercial products and public benefit.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain. Sanctions still limit access to some equipment and restrict international collaboration. Bureaucracy and regulatory hurdles can slow the path from research to market.

Yet the momentum is undeniable. What Iran lacks in resources, it is beginning to make up for in scientific talent, strategic planning, and national will.

By investing in this field, Iran is not only building a more self-sufficient economy, it is also laying the groundwork for long-term, sustainable development based on innovation and resilience.

Iran’s biotech journey offers a compelling case of how science can become a pillar of economic strength and national dignity.

Its experience shows what is possible when a nation turns to its own capabilities and dares to lead with knowledge.

MNA/PressTV

Eleven Iranian medical universities improve ranking on Webometrics

The July edition of the Webometrics world ranking has included 64 medical universities from Iran, unchanged from January’s edition, 11 of which have advanced in the ranking compared to the January edition.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences (485) is the only university ranked among the top 500 institutions in the world, Mehr news agency reported.

Among Iranian universities, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, and Yazd University of Medical Sciences have improved their rankings by 1002, 961, and 948 positions, respectively.

Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Kordestan University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, and Maraghe University of Medical Sciences are the other universities that have noticeably improved their rankings.

Other universities have declined compared to the January edition.

The Ranking Web (Webometrics) has been published since 2004 with the aim of promoting open access to the knowledge generated by universities. The July 2025 edition includes almost 32,000 higher education institutions (HEIs) from around the world. The ranking model is based on both webometric and bibliometric indicators, which are collected from reliable sources such as Majestic, OpenAlex, and Scimago-Scopus.

Web data is gathered during the first days of July, while bibliometric information covers the period from 2020 to 2024.

The Webometrics July 2025 ranking is based on a combination of indicators measuring a university’s web presence and impact. Specifically, it uses three main indicators: Visibility (50 percent), Excellence (40 percent), and Transparency/Openness (10 percent). These indicators assess the university’s website impact, the number of highly cited research papers, and the citation counts of researchers, respectively.

Based on the July edition of 2025, Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, University of Washington, University of Michigan, Cornell University, University of California Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, and Colombia University New York, are the top ten institutions.

Recent rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) has included 34 universities from Iran among the top universities pursuing sustainable development goals (SDGs), up from 33 universities in 2024.

Iran University of Medical Sciences, with a global ranking of 301-400, is placed first in the country.

Alzahra University, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (ranking 401-600) are placed second.

Iran University of Medical Sciences ranks 48th in good health and well-being as well as reduced inequalities, and 62nd in quality education goals.

Alzahra University and Kerman University of Medical Sciences rank 85th and 89th in gender equality, respectively.

Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences ranks 30th in good health and well-being.

Amirkabir University of Technology and Shahid Beheshti University rank 46th and 60th in industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

The 22nd edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (WUR), 2026, has placed nine Iranian universities among the world’s top institutes, unchanged from the 2025 ranking.
University of Tehran, with a global ranking of 322, ranks first among the Iranian universities.

Sharif University of Technology (ranking 375) and Amirkabir University of Technology (456) are placed second and third.

Iran University of Science and Technology (496), Isfahan University of Technology (571), University of Tabriz (578), Shiraz University (701-710), Shahid Beheshti University (741-750), and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (951- 1000) are other top universities included in this year’s ranking.

The Round University Ranking (RUR) 2025 has placed 36 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world, up from 32 universities in 2024.

Islamic Azad University, with a global ranking of 93, is placed first in the country.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences (125), University of Tehran (202), Iran University of Science and Technology (355), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (371), Sharif University of Technology (389), University of Tabriz (422), Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (440), Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (445), and Shahid Beheshti University (454) ranked second to tenth.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University are ranked third and fourth globally in terms of Teaching Ranking index; they are placed first and second in the country. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (with a global ranking of 69) is placed third.

Based on the Research Ranking index, University of Tehran (with a global ranking of 138), Sharif University of Technology (252), Islamic Azad University (259) are placed first to third in the country, respectively.

Islamic Azad University (414), Graduate University of Advanced Technology (542), and Imam Hossein University (572) are ranked first to third in terms of the International Diversity Ranking index.

Based on the Financial Sustainability index, Imam Hossein University (155), Baqir al-Olum University (212), and Iran University of Science and Technology (245) are the top three universities in the country.

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

Sharif University of Technology is ranked first in the country, with a global ranking of 69.

Amirkabir University of Technology (70), Iran University of Science and Technology (77), University of Tehran (97), Tehran University of Medical Science (109), Isfahan University of Technology (115), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (121), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (154), and Shiraz University of Technology (155) are placed second to tenth in the country.

The 15th edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2025 has included 17 Iranian universities in 21 subject entries, compared to 17 Iranian universities in 17 subject entries in 2024.

Iranian universities are ranked among the top institutions in three faculty areas, including Engineering and Technology; Life sciences and Medicine; and Natural Sciences, Mehr news agency reported.

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) by international outlook 2025 has ranked 85 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world. Sharif University of Technology (with a global ranking of 301- 350) tops the universities of the country.

THE World University Rankings 2025 has placed 81 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world in 10 out of 11 subject areas, compared to 73 universities in 2024. Iran’s best rankings are in Computer Sciences, and Engineering.

T.T/

Iran joins club of producers of supercapacitors

Researchers in an Iranian company have designed and manufactured an electrochemical supercapacitor, putting Iran on the list of five countries that produce such an electrical storage.

Noor Ali Mohammadi, managing director of the Chemical Industries Research Group which is run by the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) known as Jahad-e-Daneshgahi announced that researchers at the group had domestically designed and manufactured an electrochemical supercapacitor.

With this achievement, Iran became the fifth country in the world, after Canada, South Korea, China, and the United States, to achieve advanced technology for manufacturing this product.

A supercapacitor is an electrochemical energy storage device, which can be used to store and deliver charge by reversible adsorption and desorption of ions at the interface between the electrode material and electrolyte. Supercapacitors are also called ultracapacitors or electrochemical capacitors.

“Given the country’s development plans in the field of manufacturing electric vehicles and advanced equipment, the domestic consumer market for this technology has a positive outlook,” Mohammadi said.

He added that the ACECR is ready to start mass production of electrochemical supercapacitors inside the country after attracting private sector investors and government support.

The director said that about 100 experts are working with their research institute, adding that it is expected that by the end of the year, more than 20 other research projects will be put into operation.

MNA

Bagherzadeh bags third gold for Iran in 2025 World Games

Iranian wushu athlete Yasaman Bagherzadeh won a gold medal in the 2025 World Games on Tuesday. She defeated China’s Hailan Zhu 2-1 in the women’s 70kg.

Egyptian Menaalla Aly beat Briton’s Krista Dyer 2-0 in the bronze medal match.

Earlier on Tuesday, another Iranian wushu athlete Soheila Mansourian claimed a bronze medal in the same contest.

The 12th edition of The World Games take place from Aug. 7-17 in Chengdu, China.

MNA

Notable Progress in Cell Therapy

Iran has made significant progress in the field of stem cells and cell therapy, advancing to the eighth place in the world from the 12th in the previous year.

“Last year, we had only one cell therapy product on the market and ranked 12th in the world, but this year we have reached eighth place in the world with 5 products,” according to Mostafa Qanei, an official with the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology.

He made the remarks in a press conference in Tehran on Sunday with a focus on the achievements of the health sector.

“Our goal is to be among the top five countries in the world in this field and eliminate the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment,” he added.

Technological projects in health sector

For his part, Saeed Sarkar, an official with the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology, added that twenty technological projects related to the health sector are on the agenda in the current Iranian year, which ends in March 2026.

These projects include the production of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) drugs, the development of early detection kits for digestive cancers, and other health-oriented products, which are expected to save up to $40 million in foreign currency, IRIB quoted Sarkar as saying.

Referring to medicinal plants, the official said: “We are pursuing two main goals, the first one is to improve the effectiveness of medicinal plants through technologies such as nanotechnology, for example, nanocapsules loaded with curcumin to enhance absorption capacity.

The second goal is to conduct clinical trials to document the effects of traditional medicine and present the results to the health ministry for verification.

Talking about the use of artificial intelligence in the health system, Sarkar said, “We are deploying artificial intelligence tools in sectors like radiology and pathology. These devices will play a complementary role in medical diagnostics, helping to improve accuracy, reduce costs, and improve public access to healthcare.”

The official went on to highlight the unprecedented potential of AI technology in the health sector, saying that the use of artificial intelligence in the health system can significantly enhance the accuracy and speed of clinical decision-making while simultaneously reducing costs and risks.

In February, IRNA quoted the Food and Drug Administration director, Mehdi Pirsalehi, as saying that Iran has succeeded in producing cell therapy products that have received the FDA’s approval.

“Some gene therapy products are also in the clinical trial phase,” he added.

Referring to the country’s scientific progress in the pharmaceutical sector and Iranian scientists’ capabilities, the official highlighted the significance of developing modern techniques and utilizing artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry.

About 99 percent of the medicine supplied to the domestic market is produced by Iranian knowledge-based companies. They have also been successful at manufacturing biotechnology products using indigenized technology to meet the needs of the country,” Pirsalehi added.

Integrating AI in healthcare

In April, Qanei said one of the main priorities of the vice-presidency for science and knowledge-based economy in the health sector is to integrate AI in healthcare to reduce treatment costs by forty percent.

The country’s current health care costs are very high; one of the main solutions to lower the healthcare costs (particularly of chronic diseases) and boost productivity is using appropriate AI-based technologies, IRNA quoted Qanei as saying.

Integrating AI into the healthcare system requires a proper roadmap and a comprehensive approach. The official went on to say that experts operating in the field will be supported in different ways to boost innovation.

T.T/

Iran’s Bahmanyar wins gold at 2025 World Games

Iranian female karate athlete Sara Bahmanyar claimed a gold medal in the 2025 World Games on Friday.

Bahmanyar defeated Kazakhstan’s Moldir Zhangbyrbay in the final match of women’s kumite 50 kg, according to Tehran Times.

She had defeated Algerian Cylia Ouikene 4-3 in the semifinals as well as Canadian Yamina Lahyanssa, Erminia Perfetto of Italy, and Croatian Ema Sgardelli in Pool A.

Sgardelli seized the bronze medal in the weight class.

The 12th edition of the World Games take place on August 7-17 in Chengdu, China.

MNA

Iranian player Sardar Azmoun wins Emirates Ballon d’Or

Sardar Azmoun, Iranian professional footballer who plays as a forward for UAE Pro League club Shabab Al Ahli has won Emirates Ballon d’Or.

Azmoun had been nominated for the UAE Pro League’s Best Player award alongside his countryman Mehdi Ghaedi and Caio Lucas.

The player achieved a stat line of 11 goals and 6 assists in 21 games.

He also won the UAE Pro-League in his debut in Shabab Al Ahli, in addition to winning the UAE Super Cup, President’s Cup, and UAE/Qatar Super Cup.

/MNA/

Iran uncovers full profiles of Israeli air force pilots

Iranian intelligence operatives have uncovered the full profiles of the Israeli air force pilots, commanders, and drone operators, who partook in the Israeli regime’s unprovoked war on the country in June.

The development was reported by official Iranian broadcast channels and the country’s various news outlets on Saturday.

According to the reports, the discovery had laid bare the air force personnel’s complete personal details, including their identities, places of residence, operational units, military bases, and roles in other crimes.

The reports highlighted that the intelligence coup was realized, despite the regime’s strict efforts to conceal the personnel’s identities as witnessed by Israeli outlets routine blurring of their faces during televised coverage.

The reports named two of the pilots as “Major Yael Ash, deputy commander of Squadron 119 (the “Bat” Squadron)” and her husband, Bar Prince. Ash was identified as the paternal granddaughter of Major Shimon Ash, a pilot who went missing during the Yom Kippur War that was fought between the regime and a coalition of Arab countries in 1973.

Iran uncovers full profiles of Israeli air force pilots

‘They’re no longer safe’

One Iranian channel reported that the country’s intelligence apparatus was now in possesion of “satellite images revealing the exact locations” where the personnel lived.

It referred to Ash’s comments in a televised interview, during which she had claimed “she wanted to restore security” to the Zionists.

“Now, she, herself, is no longer safe,” it said, adding that the revelation of the Israeli personnel’s information “makes the entire world unsafe for them.”

The Iranian intelligence apparatus’ knowledge of the personnel’s whereabouts, their equipment, and their movements “provides Iranian intelligence operatives with a strategic advantage” in case any future retaliation was required, the reports stated.

‘Sample revenge already taken’

The reports further clarified that some of the Israeli air force personnel had already seen their residences targeted during Iranian retaliatory operations throughout the imposed war.

One broadcast report featured pictures of the aftermath of one such retaliatory strike against one of the personnel’s residences in the city of Yavne in the central part of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Some of the residences, it added, were also hit by Iranian missile strikes.

The reprisal saw Iran’s armed forces launch at least 22 rounds of counteroffensive across the occupied territories.

The retaliation targeted Israeli nuclear, military, and industrial sites, prompting the regime to request a ceasefire just after 12 days.

Failed attempt at vilifying Iran

The reports further revealed that once the personnel’s whereabouts came under Iranian counterstrikes, the regime relocated them to such places as schools.

The evacuation, they noted, took place so the regime could claim that Iran had targeted “civilian” sites in case those places were targeted.

The reports finally said what had been made public as part of the discovery so far was only “one example.”

“The disclosures of such classified information will continue.”

MNA/

Iran’s fiber optic production plant inaugurated in Venezuela

The Islamic Republic of Iran has extended its export of advanced technology to the heart of Latin America with the establishment of a fiber optic plant in Venezuela.

Iran’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Seyed Sattar Hashemi, said that in line with expanding technology diplomacy and exporting Iran’s technical capabilities to other countries, a fiber optic production facility has been launched and put into operation in Venezuela by Iranian knowledge-based companies.

The Iranian fiber optic plant in Venezuela was established with a $10 million investment. It aims to meet Venezuela’s domestic needs—which previously imported fiber optic equipment worth $2 million annually from Iran—and to become a regional hub for exporting telecommunications equipment to Latin American countries.

According to Amirhossein Mirabadi, head of the Center for International Interactions at the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, with the inauguration of this plant, Iranian knowledge-based companies have established a presence in a region often described as the United States’ backyard.

Earlier, Iran and Oman had also agreed to establish a new corridor for data and internet transit—a route beginning in Northern countries such as Russia and Central Asia, passing through Iran, and extending Southward to the Persian Gulf, India, and even East Africa.

The purpose of this agreement is for Iran, leveraging its domestic infrastructure, to become one of the main data transit routes in the region. The initial capacity of this corridor is 4.5 terabits per second.

MNA/

Iranian-Belgian film ‘Nigeria’ to compete in Bangladesh

The Iranian-Belgian short film ‘Nigeria’ directed by Sabah Gavili will compete in 16th edition of International Inter-University Short Film Festival (IIUSFF).

This festival will be held from August 31 to September 2, 2025 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

‘Nigeria’ tells the story of two young delinquents who commit murder during a robbery. A street vendor witnesses the crime, setting off a chain of events that unfolds in the film. MNA/