TEHRAN – A total of 2,111,476 Iranians donated blood in the first ten months of the current Iranian year, which started on March 21, according to an official with the Blood Transfusion Organization.

The highest blood donation growth was recorded in the provinces of Zanjan (around 13 percent), Sistan-Baluchestan (about ten percent), and Isfahan (almost eight percent), the health ministry’s website quoted Babak Yektaparast as saying.

Over the past ten months, the continuous blood donation growth rate in the country has increased to over 55 percent. The provinces of Semnan (more than 69 percent), Golestan, and Qom (about 67 percent) hold the highest rates for continuous blood donation, respectively, he noted.

Women’s share of blood donation in the country is almost five percent, Yektaparast added.

The official went on to say that Tehran province accounted for more than 16 percent of the total blood donation in the same period.

According to Ahmad Qarah-Baghian, an official with Iran Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), around 1.7 percent of the country’s population donates blood regularly, and the blood donation index is 28 per 1,000 population.

The average amount of blood storage in the country is sufficient for five days, but it can be increased to eight days, IRNA quoted Qarah-Baghian as saying in January.

Blood donations are always needed. The life of some patients, such as those suffering from hemophilia and thalassemia, depends on regular blood transfusions, the official noted.

With an increase in life expectancy in Iran, which is currently 75 years, and a structural change in the population’s average age, the need for blood and its products will significantly increase in the future, he added.

Referring to Iran’s transition into an aging country and the fact that about 30 per cent of the death tolls in traffic accidents are due to lack of access to blood transfusion, Qarah-Baghian said young healthy individuals, aged below 25, need to be encouraged to donate blood regularly, and women’s contribution should increase from 5 to 35 percent.

The official went on to say that people can even only donate platelets, as platelets can be stored for only about three days, while the product is vital for many patients.

WHO lauds IBTO’s achievements

In January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Jaffar Hussain, admired the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization’s (IBTO) leadership in blood safety and transfusion services, and highlighted their remarkable achievement of a 100 percent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system, a testament to the principles of universal health coverage in action.

He also thanked the blood donors, whose selflessness serves as an inspiration to all.

Admiring the IBTO’s efforts and expertise in providing services to patients with rare blood types, the official underscored Iran’s capacity to serve as a model for other nations in the realm of blood transfusion and rare blood management.

Addressing National Rare Blood Day on January 22, 2025, the official praised the country’s steadfast commitment to equitable healthcare access, ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of their blood type.

The official commended the country’s unwavering dedication to tackling the unique challenges surrounding rare blood, emphasizing the critical importance of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering determination in this global endeavor, the WHO website announced in a press release on January 27.

He lauded the IBTO leadership in blood safety and transfusion services, highlighting their remarkable achievement of a 100 percent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system, a testament to the principles of universal health coverage in action. He also thanked the blood donors, whose selflessness serves as an inspiration to all.

Tehran Times

TEHRAN – A total of 2,111,476 Iranians donated blood in the first ten months of the current Iranian year, which started on March 21, according to an official with the Blood Transfusion Organization.

The highest blood donation growth was recorded in the provinces of Zanjan (around 13 percent), Sistan-Baluchestan (about ten percent), and Isfahan (almost eight percent), the health ministry’s website quoted Babak Yektaparast as saying.

Over the past ten months, the continuous blood donation growth rate in the country has increased to over 55 percent. The provinces of Semnan (more than 69 percent), Golestan, and Qom (about 67 percent) hold the highest rates for continuous blood donation, respectively, he noted.

Women’s share of blood donation in the country is almost five percent, Yektaparast added.

The official went on to say that Tehran province accounted for more than 16 percent of the total blood donation in the same period.

According to Ahmad Qarah-Baghian, an official with Iran Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), around 1.7 percent of the country’s population donates blood regularly, and the blood donation index is 28 per 1,000 population.

The average amount of blood storage in the country is sufficient for five days, but it can be increased to eight days, IRNA quoted Qarah-Baghian as saying in January.

Blood donations are always needed. The life of some patients, such as those suffering from hemophilia and thalassemia, depends on regular blood transfusions, the official noted.

With an increase in life expectancy in Iran, which is currently 75 years, and a structural change in the population’s average age, the need for blood and its products will significantly increase in the future, he added.

Referring to Iran’s transition into an aging country and the fact that about 30 per cent of the death tolls in traffic accidents are due to lack of access to blood transfusion, Qarah-Baghian said young healthy individuals, aged below 25, need to be encouraged to donate blood regularly, and women’s contribution should increase from 5 to 35 percent.

The official went on to say that people can even only donate platelets, as platelets can be stored for only about three days, while the product is vital for many patients.

WHO lauds IBTO’s achievements

In January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Jaffar Hussain, admired the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization’s (IBTO) leadership in blood safety and transfusion services, and highlighted their remarkable achievement of a 100 percent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system, a testament to the principles of universal health coverage in action.

He also thanked the blood donors, whose selflessness serves as an inspiration to all.

Admiring the IBTO’s efforts and expertise in providing services to patients with rare blood types, the official underscored Iran’s capacity to serve as a model for other nations in the realm of blood transfusion and rare blood management.

Addressing National Rare Blood Day on January 22, 2025, the official praised the country’s steadfast commitment to equitable healthcare access, ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of their blood type.

The official commended the country’s unwavering dedication to tackling the unique challenges surrounding rare blood, emphasizing the critical importance of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering determination in this global endeavor, the WHO website announced in a press release on January 27.

He lauded the IBTO leadership in blood safety and transfusion services, highlighting their remarkable achievement of a 100 percent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system, a testament to the principles of universal health coverage in action. He also thanked the blood donors, whose selflessness serves as an inspiration to all.

Tehran Times

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned that any war initiated by the United States against Iran would turn into a regional war.

Addressing a large gathering of people at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya on Saturday, the Leader said recent US rhetoric about war and military assets was nothing new.

“The Americans should know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war,” he said, stressing that threats and displays of military power will not intimidate the Iranian nation.

“Sometimes they talk about war and speak of aircraft and warships; this is not a new thing,” he said, recalling that US officials had repeatedly threatened Iran in the past by claiming that “all options are on the table, including the option of war.”

Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The Iranian nation should not be frightened by these things; the people of Iran are not affected by such threats.”

He emphasized that Iran would not be the initiator of any war, but warned of a firm response to aggression.

“We are not the ones who start [a war], and we do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will deliver a hard punch to anyone who attacks and harasses it,” he said.

In another part of his speech, the Leader described the recent riots across Iran as “similar to a coup,” saying the plot aimed at destroying sensitive and effective centers involved in running the country.

He said attackers targeted police stations, government centers, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) facilities, banks, and mosques, and even set the Holy Quran on fire, noting that the attempt had ultimately been thwarted.

Press TV

TEHRAN – Iran’s western county of Qasr-e Shirin requires up to a century of archaeological research due to the number of historical sites dating back to the Sassanid period, a senior provincial heritage official said on Tuesday.

Siavash Shahbazi, head of the preservation and restoration group for historical buildings and sites at Kermanshah province’s Cultural Heritage Department, said past archaeological discoveries show Qasr-e Shirin was a major center for pre-Islamic rulers.

“Based on archaeological findings so far, Qasr-e Shirin was one of the areas that attracted the attention of kings before the Islamic era,” Shahbazi told ISNA news agency.

He said the county hosts multiple Sassanid-era sites, including the Palace of Khosrow, Ban Qal’eh stone tower, the Chahar Qapu fire temple and the Shah Gadar canal, a Sassanid water supply system.

“If archaeological work were to be carried out comprehensively in this county, it would require many years,” he said.

Shahbazi said the Palace of Khosrow is one of the best-known monuments in Qasr-e Shirin. According to archaeologists, the structure was once a large complex located within a garden enclosure.

He said six seasons of archaeological excavations have been completed at the site, leading to the identification of significant remains of the palace.

“The site needs at least three more excavation seasons,” Shahbazi said, adding that funding has been allocated in recent years to continue research at the palace.

He said the seventh season of excavations is planned for next year, subject to the allocation of funds.

During the next phase, archaeologists will attempt to identify traces of the surrounding garden described in historical sources, Shahbazi said. Any findings would be documented to help reconstruct the historical layout of the palace.

Shahbazi also said Qasr-e Shirin has historically held strategic importance and today lies on a major route used by pilgrims traveling to holy sites in Iraq, as well as on a commercial corridor with a border market.

“These factors give the county the capacity to become a tourism hub in the province,” he said.

In 2007, the Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin was placed on UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage status. The ensemble includes architectural and urban remains from the late Sassanid and early Islamic periods, such as the Palace of Khosrow, the Chahar Qapu monument, Ban Qal’eh and the remains of a Safavid-era caravanserai, according to the nomination file.

Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Iran has formally submitted the nomination dossier for the historic port of Siraf to UNESCO for review and possible inscription on the World Heritage list, the deputy minister for cultural heritage said on Wednesday.

Ali Darabi said the dossier was officially sent to UNESCO following approval by national expert bodies, adding that Siraf was selected for nomination due to its historical role as one of Iran’s most important commercial ports from the Sassanid period onward and its position in connecting the ancient country to the Indian Ocean and open seas.

“Siraf played a central role in international trade networks of the ancient world and symbolized Iran’s economic power, seafaring capability and cross-regional interactions,” he said.

He said the site contains more than 5,000 rock-cut spaces, which he described as one of the most distinctive physical features of the historical ensemble.

Darabi said the Grand Mosque of Siraf, dating back to the first century of the Islamic era, holds a significant place in studies of early Islamic architecture due to its design and structural features.

The official also highlighted the port’s stepped architectural layout, shaped in harmony with the area’s natural topography, reflects human adaptation to the environment.

Darabi also cited the presence of more than 150 active water wells that have continued to supply water for centuries as evidence of advanced engineering knowledge and water management in the historic port.

He said these historical, architectural and technical attributes led the national world heritage registration policy council to select Siraf as a site of outstanding universal value for nomination to UNESCO.

He then expressed hope that planned measures for protection, management and presentation of Siraf would be implemented and that the site would be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in the near future.

Siraf was Iran’s most important port from the Sassanid period through the fourth century AH and played a leading role in maritime trade linking Western Asia with India, the Far East and eastern Africa between the 9th and 11th centuries.

Between 1966 and 1973, the British Institute of Persian Studies conducted seven seasons of excavation and survey at Siraf, identifying extensive remains of a major port city on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf.

Historians estimate Siraf’s population reached about 300,000 during the early Islamic era, while the modern town has a population of roughly 7,000.

Situated in Bushehr province, the ancient port hosts numerous historical and archaeological sites spanning the Elamite, Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid, Islamic and Qajar periods.

Tehran Times

TEHRAN – The 19th session of the Iran–Russia Joint Economic Committee meeting will be held in Tehran in mid-February, reflecting expanding cooperation prospects between the two countries, Iran’s deputy oil minister for international and commercial affairs said.

Seyed Ali-Mohammad Mousavi said the meeting will take place from Feb. 15 to 17 and will be co-chaired by Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and Russia’s Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev, who head the joint committee.

He said a broad range of issues will be discussed, including completion of the International North–South Transit Corridor (INSTC), gas transfer from Russia to Iran, and cooperation in space industries, nuclear energy, trade and economy, finance and banking, customs, industry and mining, agriculture, health, culture and tourism, as well as science and technology.

Mousavi said expert-level meetings will be held on the first two days, with Iranian and Russian specialists working through sectoral groups to address challenges and outline practical ways to expand cooperation. The discussions are expected to produce a roadmap for future collaboration, to be formalized in a memorandum of understanding signed by the commission’s co-chairs.

He said annual trade between Iran and Russia currently stands at about $5 billion, noting that while exchanges are growing, the figure does not reflect the depth of the two countries’ strategic relations and could be significantly higher.

“The outlook for Iran–Russia cooperation is bright and on an upward trajectory,” Mousavi said, adding that the joint commission plays a key role in strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing shared interests.

He said the meeting would also support implementation of broader agreements, including the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The previous session of the joint economic commission was held in Moscow in late April. According to Iran’s Oil Ministry, 110 of the 193 clauses included in the memorandum signed at that meeting are currently being implemented.

Tehran Times

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf says Tehran does not oppose the principle of dialogue and diplomacy, which must be genuine and balanced, based on mutual respect and backed by guarantees.

In an interview with CNN published on Thursday, Qalibaf said negotiations under the shadow of war fuels tensions and insecurity, expressing Iran’s readiness for sincere talks in accordance with international rules and regulations.

He emphasized that US President Donald Trump has so far proved that he seeks to impose his own political views through the threat of war.

Qalibaf also referred to the US aggression against Iran in June 2025, saying it took place just two days before the sixth rounds of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.

“As long as there are no guarantees for the rights of the Iranian nation, [as long as] the economic interests and benefits of the Iranian nation are not secured, and [as long as] the dignity of the Iranian nation is not respected, naturally there can be no talk of negotiations because we do not consider dictation, imposition, or surrender as negotiation,” the top Iranian parliamentarian pointed out.

He said Trump must take measures toward achieving “real peace” if he truly seeks one and claims to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.

The remarks come amid escalated rhetoric by Trump, who recently threatened fresh military aggression against Iran. Washington has just deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group to West Asia near Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday warned that imposing diplomacy through military threats cannot be effective or productive, saying that no decision has yet been made regarding negotiations with the United States.

Press TV

TEHRAN – The Sixth International Conference on the Persian Gulf Oceanography opened on Tuesday in the port city of Bandar Abbas.

The Iran Meteorological Organization hosts the two-day event, which is held every four years. It will bring together local and global experts and researchers in different fields, including meteorology, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, climatology, Physics, Geography, and remote sensing, IRIB reported.

The event serves as a great platform for sharing knowledge and the latest scientific achievements, as well as strengthening national and global cooperation in the oceanography and marine environment sectors.

It is centered around marine meteorology, physical oceanography, climate change, and its effects on coastal areas, marine and oceanic science, utilization of marine resources, marine environment, as well as culture, history, and economy of the sea.

Development of applied research, sustainable exploitation of marine resources, coastal environment protection, and sustainable sea-based development are among the main goals of the conference, IRIB quoted Farah Mohammadi, an official with the Meteorological Organization, as saying.

Highlighting the significance of benefiting from modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, and remote sensing in protecting the Persian Gulf and enhancing the resilience of local communities, the official said scientific findings of the sixth conference will help pave the way for making main decisions and adopting best strategies for marine management, and will contribute to sustainable sea-based development. These findings will be applicable in various maritime sectors, not just the maritime geography of the Persian Gulf.

The 5th International Conference on Persian Gulf Oceanography was held in Tehran in January 2022. The two-day conference was attended by representatives from Belarus, Finland, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Russia, as well as officials related to marine and port development.

Precious marine environment

The Persian Gulf is a valuable water body in terms of ecosystem and biodiversity, but has been affected severely due to different depleting factors, including oil pollution, extraction, and transportation.

The Persian Gulf has an area of about 241,000 square kilometers. Its length is some 990 km, and its width varies from a maximum of about 340 km to a minimum of 55 km in the Strait of Hormuz.

It has its own environmental characteristics, as it is a semi-closed sea, aging 15,000 years, with an average depth of 35 meters, while being highly salty with severe heat fluctuations, and an annual evaporation rate of 140 cm.

There are 2 species of dolphins and whales in the area, in addition to 1,100 species of fish and 5 species of turtles. The Persian Gulf also hosts the second largest population of manatees, 232 seaweed species, and 4 million migratory birds annually, but today, 240 important species and many habitats are under threat.

Out of the 21 largest oil spills in the world, 7 cases occurred in this water body, which is threatening the aquatic ecosystem.

Hassan Mohammadi, the coordinator of the Regional Organization for the Protection of Marine Environment (ROPME), said in December 2019 that studies show that as the current environmental issues continue, by the end of the century, about 20 percent of native species in the Persian Gulf will be extinct, and 10 percent of new species that might be invasive will replace them.