Director General of Khorasan Razavi Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Seyyed Javad Mousavi said on Tuesday that Mashhad’s 18th International Tourism and Handicrafts Fair would be held in the provincial capital.

He also said that the event would be held in line with materializing this year’s slogan “Investments for Production”, CHTN reported.

In his annual message marking the start of the new Iranian year (1404 in the Persian calendar), the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, named the year “Investments for Production.”

Mousavi continued that the fair would be held during May 14-17.

He explained that countries from the Khorasan civilization including Afghanistan, Tajikisatn, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan have been invited to the four-day event.

In addition, a number of exhibitors from several other Iranian provinces as well as representatives of several foreign countries will also take part at the fair, he said.

Mashhad, the provincial capital, is Iran’s holiest and second-largest city. Its raison d’être and main sight is the striking massive shrine complex of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam. / T.T/

Iran’s Sedigheh Dariaei Varkadeh won a gold medal in the 10th Sanda World Cup on Tuesday.Daryaei beat Bermudian Krista Stepheny by a 12-point spread on the leitai [elevated fighting arena] at the Culture and Sports Indoor Stadium in the women’s 65kg division, Tehran Times reported.

She defeated Australian Nicole Lowe-Tarbert in her next match and won the gold.

The 10th SWC has welcomed nearly 170 participants including team officials from 26 countries and regions.

The elite biennial competition, which offers prize money to the champions, is organized by the Chinese Wushu Association under the auspices of the International Wushu Federation.

MNA

Iran’s women’s futsal team were held to a goalless draw by Thailand in the SAT Futsal Championship Thailand 2025 on Monday and finished in second place in the tournament.

Team Melli had defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 and played out a goalless draw with Japan.

The Japanese team, who had defeated Uzbekistan earlier in the day, won the title.

The competition was held at Terminal Hall, Terminal 21 Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The Iranian football team prepare for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025, which will be held in Hohhot, China, from May 7 to 18.

/T.T/

Iran exported over 152 million tons of non-oil goods worth $57.8 billion in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, 2025.

This marked a 10 percent increase in volume and a 15.62 percent rise in value compared to the previous year, according to Abolfazl Akbarpour, the deputy head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) for planning and international affairs.

Imports totaled 39.3 million tons valued at $72.4 billion, representing a 0.77 percent decline in weight but an 8.22 percent increase in value from the previous year. The result was a non-oil trade deficit of $14.6 billion, largely due to the import of over $8.0 billion worth of raw gold bars, which accounted for 11.12 percent of the total import value.

Iran’s main non-oil exports included natural gas, liquefied propane and butane, methanol, liquefied petroleum gases and hydrocarbon gases, and gas condensates.

Natural gas was the top export item, with an average customs value of $314 per ton.

Other leading exports were petroleum bitumen, urea, non-alloy iron and steel billets, iron or steel bars, and polyethylene.

The top destinations for Iran’s exports were China at $14.8 billion, Iraq at $11.9 billion, the United Arab Emirates at $7.2 billion, Turkey at $6.8 billion, Pakistan and Afghanistan at $2.4 billion each, and India at $1.9 billion. These seven countries accounted for $47.6 billion, or 82.3 percent of Iran’s total non-oil export value.

On the import side, essential goods such as corn feed, soybean meal, genetically modified soybeans, rice, and sunflower seed oil were among the top items. Other key imports included smartphones, tractors, and auto parts.

The UAE was Iran’s largest source of imports at $21.9 billion, followed by China at $19.3 billion, Turkey at $12.4 billion, Germany at $2.4 billion, India at $1.7 billion, Hong Kong at approximately $1.4 billion, and Russia at $1.3 billion. Together, these countries supplied goods worth $60.7 billion, or 83.8 percent of Iran’s total imports.

Akbarpour said the trade deficit could be largely attributed to the surge in gold imports, which on their own exceeded $8.0 billion.

T.T/

The head of Iran’s Space Agency announced plans to launch several satellites and space launch vehicles by year-end, alongside the development of a 1,500 kg biological capsule capable of carrying a human into space.

Hassan Salarieh, head of Iran’s Space Agency and Deputy ICT Minister, confirmed that the country will carry out a series of domestic and international satellite launches in the Persian calendar year 1404 (2025–2026), including launches of Simorgh and Optimized Simorgh satellites and Zoljanah and Qaem 100 launch vehicles.

He revealed that while satellites Zafar and Paya were scheduled for 1403, their launches were delayed and are now rescheduled for 1404.

Salarieh also said that both test and operational launches for the Martyr Soleimani Satellite Constellation are planned in 1404 and 1405. The Nahid-2 satellite is also expected to launch in 1404 using both domestic and international launch vehicles, according to him.

He also said that the first of the 3 phases of the Chabahar Space Base, a key national infrastructure project, is expected to be completed in 1405.

Moreover, Salarieh noted that Iran is currently designing advanced biological capsules weighing 500 kg and 1,500 kg. The larger capsule is being built to carry a human into space.

He added that Iran is also building a class one-ton satellite laboratory, with 60% of its physical infrastructure already completed.

MNA/

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Iran Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury has stressed the need for further promotion of Ali-Sadr Cave, one of the world’s largest water caves, among foreign tourists.

Chowdhury emphasized the importance of better introducing Ali-Sadr Cave, an extraordinary tourist attraction located in Iran’s Hamadan Province, to a broader audience.

During his visit to the cave on Sunday, the ambassador lauded the tourist attraction, stating, “I have visited various caves around the world, but I can confidently say that Ali-Sadr is the most remarkable and unique water cave in the world.”

He highlighted that increased efforts in promoting this natural wonder could attract Bangladeshi tourists to Iran.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the envoy praised Hamadan’s historical significance, noting its thousands of years of heritage.

Bangladeshi envoy calls for promotion of Iran’s Ali-Sadr Cave

Ali-Sadr Cave, known for its extensive network of water-filled passages, draws thousands of visitors each year and is regarded as one of the world’s largest water caves.

The cave embraces a huge matrix of sunless channels, ponds, grottoes, and water passages which are stretched along with imposing rock formations and stalactite-covered tops in a span of several kilometers.

MNA/

Iran defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in the SAT Futsal Championship Thailand 2025 on Sunday. Mahtab Banaei scored two goals as well as goals from Elham Anafcheh, Nasimeh Gholami and Fereshteh Khosravi.

Team Melli are scheduled to play Thailand Monday, according to

The competition takes place from April 5 to 7 at Terminal Hall, Terminal 21 Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The Iranian football team is preparing for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025, which will be held in Hohhot, China, from May 7 to 18.

/MNA/

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says that new achievements are set to be unveiled in the coming days.

Mohammad Eslami, Vice President and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), announced that the organization will showcase its latest technological advancements during a high-profile ceremony scheduled for Farvardin 20 (April 9).

Speaking about the organization’s performance in the Persian calendar year 1403, Eslami highlighted the continued momentum of scientific and technological development within the AEOI. “With the divine grace of God and the relentless efforts of our dedicated scientists and experts, the year 1403 was marked by remarkable success,” he said.

Eslami added that the organization has managed to maintain its pace of scientific progress, registering over 100 significant achievements across various sectors. “The capacity developed for result-driven research, which defines the identity of the AEOI, has continued to accelerate,” he stated.

Saying that over 100 achievements were reached in the year 1403, Eslami said that the most important of them will be unveiled in the presence of senior Iranian officials, reinforcing Iran’s commitment to peaceful nuclear advancement despite international scrutiny.

MNA/

Adviser to the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Mirhadi Seyedi has said that the volume of trade exchanges between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has registered a 2.2-fold growth.

He stated that Iran and EAEU’s member states are constantly discussing facilitating the transport corridors.

Emphasizing the need for strengthening the infrastructures in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Iran and EAEU, he stated that the government’s determination to strengthen the infrastructure for developing trade with Eurasia is essential.

Referring to the improvement of trade infrastructure between Iran and the members of the Eurasian Economic Union, Seyedi pointed out that Iran and member states of the union are always in talks about facilitating transportation along the corridors.

The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) became operational between Iran and EAEU member states on November 27, 2019, according to which, the trade exchanges between the two sides have increased 2.2fold growth.

Obviously, in implementing free trade with Eurasia, infrastructure must be upgraded and the necessary financial resources must be provided, he added.

MA/