It is the first zero daily death toll since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country in early 2020.

Iran’s Health Minister Bahram Einollahi issued a message in which he hailed the zero daily COVID death toll after the country’s 2 year and 100 days of fight against the pandemic.

Bahram Einollahi said that Iran witnessed its first day without any COVID-related deaths while high death tolls are reported in the United States and Europe.

He congratulated Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the whole Iranian nation on this achievement.

He called on the Iranian nation to observe the health protocols until the country celebrates the end of the pandemic.

Coronavirus figures kept declining in Iran thanks to the government’s mass vaccination campaign. So far, 64,550,043 people have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine, 57,866,919 people the second dose and 27,562,033 people the third dose, and the total number of vaccines injected in the country reached 149,978,995 doses.

Coronavirus and US Sanction against IRAN

Iran has been battling one of the deadliest outbreaks in the world, with the crippling sanctions slapped on the country by the US significantly hampering the country’s efforts to rein in the spread of the virus and provide vaccines from other countries.

The sanctions were imposed by the administration of former President Donald Trump under a “maximum pressure” campaign and have been maintained by the current administration of Joe Biden, which has refused to soften the bans to ease pandemic-related hardship on Iranians.

Iranian officials have described the sanctions as “economic terrorism” and “medical terrorism” for their deadly impact on ordinary people.

The bans, however, backfired and helped the Islamic Republic rely on its own medical and pharmaceutical capacities to develop domestically-manufactured anti-COVID vaccine, so much so that the country’s health experts rose through the ranks and promoted Iran as one of the few exporters of the coronavirus jabs.

The post Iran reports zero daily Coronavirus deaths appeared first on IRAN This Way.

Dr. Payam Tabarsi, infectious decease specialist, said in interview with IRNA on Saturday that authorization of Spikogen vaccine to be administered in Iran depends on being licensed by the Health Ministry.

And the current situation suggests that the vaccine would be authorized to be used, Dr. Tabarsi noted, adding that Spikogen’s manufacturer, CinnaGen company, has a capacity to produce 3 million doses a month.

He said that the vaccine has produced 77-percent immunity in its second phase of clinical test and the third phase would be completed by the end of September.

In the first and second phases of clinical test, respectively 16,800 and 2,500 people received the vaccine and 400 people have registered for the third phase, according to Dr. Tabarsi.

A joint production of Australia and Iran, Spikogen COVID-19 vaccine would be authorized in Iran for emergency use if its third phase clinical test is successful.

The vaccine has passed the pre-clinical and first phase of clinical test in Australia and confirmed by the Australian Health Ministry.

Iran’s Health Ministry also authorized the vaccine to continue with its second and third phases of clinical test in Iran.

The post Iranian-Australian Spikoge COVID-19 vaccine might gain license in Iran appeared first on IRAN This Way.

Iranian airline to resume Tehran-Istanbul flights

Iran Air, the airline of the Islamic Republic of Iran, will resume flights between Tehran and Istanbul as of Monday, July 13, according to an official.

The head of Iran Air Public Relations Office, Hossein Jahani, said on Sunday that the airline will operate its first flight along the Tehran-Istanbul route on Monday after a four-month hiatus.

Iran Air is scheduled to operate two flights per week (Mondays and Fridays) from Tehran to Istanbul and vice versa, the official added.

Flights between Iran and Turkey were suspended about five months ago from the closure of borders due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In early March, based on the coordination between Iran and Turkey, two special flights were conducted from Istanbul to Tehran to bring home the Iranian visitors stranded in Turkey.

The two countries are considering reopening borders and resuming the flights which have been suspended since March over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tehran-Dubai tourist flights resumed

The tourist flights of Tehran and Dubai have been resumed since July 09 during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, by observing health protocols.

An Iranian Airline revealed the remarks on Sun. and announced, “the passenger flights of the Airline en route Tehran-Dubai-Tehran have been resumed since Thursday, July 9 amid the pandemic by fully observing health protocols and guidelines.”

In addition, the Airline has also revealed the launch of a daily flight via this route by full compliance with health guidelines.

It should be noted that passengers are admitted only with a tourist visa or a valid stay permit so that admitting passengers in transit form is impossible until further notice.

The post Iran tourist flights resumed despite outbreak appeared first on IRAN This Way.

It was in late March and as Iran’s sports community was still reeling from the shock of the pandemic, the suspension of all sporting events and the postponement of the olympic games to 2021 when it received another bitter blow; the country’s lone Olympic track and field medalist, Ehsan Hadadi, had tested positive for the coronavirus.

After recovering from the malicious disease Ehsan recounted his experience battling the virus. He said:
“It was really difficult to breathe but I hadn’t lost hope. Fear is your worst enemy while fighting this disease. If you are afraid, you can not overcome this. My high morale was a great help. This disease is no joke. It can infect anyone. So, whoever you are, stay home and take safety guidelines seriously.”
Aside from finicalical implications, the postponement of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo has also had a ripple effect on the morale of the athletes who saw their childhood dreams put on hold and years of training extended. 52 Iranian athletes who have already qualified for 11 events now have to reset their mental preparations.

The 2020 Olympics – now the 2021 Olympics- are the first ever games to be postponed in peace-time. The event that was initially scheduled to start July 24 is now pushed all the way back to the summer of 2021.
This decision came out of a phone call between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on March 25 to make sure athletes can compete in their best condition and spectators can enjoy safe games.
The National Olympic Academy of Iran had to – naturally- suspend its activities following an order by Iran’s coronavirus control center. But the Academy continued its consultation services for athletes online or over the phone. It also started offering online courses for PE teachers in Olympics Values Education.

For a period of time, Iran was behind China with the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths. But the country soon recovered from the first wave of the outbreak and assumed the control of the situation despite US economic sanctions that have drastically constrained the ability of the country to finance humanitarian imports, including medicines and medical equipment.

Iranian athletes and champions released a video clip in solidarity with the people of the world which was warmly received by the sports community and was shared on the website of Association of National Olympic Committees.

In recent history, we Iranians have gone through years of war and sanctions. And I am only sure that we will put this new crisis behind us victoriously. So keep your spirits up and never lose hope.

Iran Olympic Review
Episode 1: Iran and Coronavirus covid-19
Reporter: Farbod Khalili
Cameraman: Mohsen Roushandeh
Video Editor: Amirhassan Saadati
Editor in chief and producer: Sadeq Hosseini
Production: Public Relation Of Iran National Olympic Committee & Iran This Way
www.olympic.ir
www.iranthisway.com

The post Exclusive| Coronavirus’s impact on Iran sports and Olympic 2020 appeared first on IRAN This Way.

“Khonyagaran-e Mehr” is a female musicians band with a brilliant background, led by Behzad Abdi,that performs various concerts in persian music.
“Khonyagaran-e Mehr”, consists of twelve musicians, formed in may 2017. In August 2017 they held a successful concert at the Vahdat Hall with Mohammad Motamedi as a singer.

In October 2017, “Khonyagaran-e Mehr” performed at the “Eimehestan” festival in Armenia and received award from Culture Minister of Armenia.
In February 2017, “Khonyagaran-e Mehr” performed at the Fajr Festival with Vahid Taj as a singer.This performance was appreciated by the audience.
In july 2017, two music videos of Khonyagaran-e Mehr were displayed for a month in Expo of Kazakhstan.
In August 2018, “Khonyagaran-e Mehr” held a concert for Iranian ladies in Niavaran Cultural Center with a singer named “Sayeh Sodeyfi”.
In November 2017, the soloists of “Khonyagaran-e Mehr” held a concert with the Organizal Orchestra in Kostiol church in kiev, Ukraine.
In February 2018, “Khonyagaran-e Mehr” and Vahid Taj performed in Philharmonic Hall of kiev, Ukraine.

In February 2019, they performed at the Fajr Festival with Navid Norouzi as a singer.They also performed in closing the Fajr Music Festival.
In March 2019, they held successful performances in three cities of Germany : Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt.
In April 2019, they performed at the “le Magie des Hirondelles du Printemps” festival in Paris,France.
In April 2019, held concert in Bern,Switzerland.
In October 2019 held concert in Womex festival in Tampere, Finland.

WOMEX 19 is one of the world’s largest music events which hostd publishers, independent musicians, organizers, and state organizations in music every year from over 90 countries.

‘Khoniagaran-e Mehr’ founded and led by Behzad Abdi.

Mehrnam Rastegari (Kamancheh),
Samaneh Barouti, Nazanin Rousta (Qichak Alto),
Neginzadeh Vakili (Qichak Bass),
Hila Feyzpour (Tar),
Torgol Khaliqi (Tar and Rabab),
Seda Sedifi (Qanun),
Rokhsareh Rostami Daristani (Oud),
Bahareh Heydari (Tar Bass),
Sheida Ghazi (Ney),
Mehrnaz Dabirzadeh (Tombak and percussion instruments)

Behzad Abdi (born 1973, Tehran) is an Iranian composer of opera, film and television music

He came to international attention in 2006 with his “Nuclear Symphony”, commissioned by the government to celebrate Iran’s nuclear achievements.

The IMDb database cites film and television music for no less than 43 productions between 2010 and 2018.

Abdi studied setar and Iranian traditional music and also Western classical music at the Tchaikovsky Academy in Ukraine, beginning his studies there in 2003.

He has been described as “the first composer to write Iranian traditional opera fusing Iranian traditional and Western classical music.”

His opera “Rumi” from 2009, based on the life of Rumi, with libretto by Behrouz Gharibourm, and with Mohammad Motamadi, has been released on a UK label, Naxos.

Abdi is currently based in Kiev, Ukraine.

The post Video| Iranian women music group performed online during Coronavirus appeared first on IRAN This Way.

Noting that after 36 days, the number of people getting infected daily now stands at less than 1,000.

He added that in the past 24 hours, 991 new cases of coronavirus were reported, increasing the total number of infections in Iran to 91,472.

Some 96 coronavirus patients lost their lives in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 5,806, he added.

There were 3,011 people in intensive care, Jahanpour said, adding, of those infected, 70,933 have recovered.

So far, 432,329 tests have been taken across the country to detect infected cases, said the Health Ministry spokesman.

The post 70,933 recovered in Iran from Coronavirus Covid-19 appeared first on IRAN This Way.

The news comes as the body has already unveiled and mass-produced two generations of test kits in the past 40 days.

“First-generation kits identified N gene; we have designed and produced the second generation of kits that were stronger regarding the detection ability. God willing, we will have the third generation of kits that will rely on Rdrp gene,” said Reza Allahveren, head of the emergency and medical department of the ministry, on Saturday.

“We will have no problem for the production of test kits,” he highlighted.

“The Defense Ministry’s duty in the first place is to provide defense equipment for the armed forces, however, given the scientific capacity of the body, we can address the needs of the country which is now happening during the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Last week, the ministry unveiled the second generation of test kits able to diagnose the COVID-19 disease in less than three hours and with 98 percent accuracy.

Iranian Defense Ministry started mass production of face masks, disinfectants, and protective clothes from the early days the outbreak hit Iran. The body also unveiled advanced thermal cameras to be used as a screening tool in crowded places.

The post Iran’s Defense Ministry to produce 3rd generation of COVID-19 test kits appeared first on IRAN This Way.

The Iranian diplomat told Iranian reporters based in the United Nations that Iran is unable to provide medical and emergency supplies and the best use of its medical capacities owing to the illegal sanctions imposed on the country.

Iran has called on the United Nations Secretary-General to take initiative for removing the sanctions as an international task, he said, adding that over eight states have recently sent a letter to the Secretary-General calling for lifting the sanctions, saying that the sanctions are in total disregard of the international law.

It is becoming evident that sanctions policy is a failed policy, he said noting that its supporters are in isolation.

The US administration says that trade on food, medicine, agricultural and medical products is excluded from sanctions; whereas, in practice, cut-off of SWIFT Interbank Telecom link of Central Bank of Iran has made impossible to open up Letters of Credit LCs for medical supplies and respiratory aids.

The outbreak of dangerous coronavirus (COVID-19) has been affecting the world for a number of months requiring collective campaign of the international community to thwart the threat posed to humanity by the pandemic.

The post Iran envoy hopes UN Sec-Gen’s efforts for lifting sanctions pay off appeared first on IRAN This Way.

“#Covid19 ravages the world, sparing no nation,” Zarif wrote in his Twitter account.

“Even the world’s largest economy needs others to help it fight the pandemic, yet refuses to halt its #EconomicTerrorism against Iran,” he added.

“Does the US want a “forever pandemic”?”

“Moral imperative to stop observing the bully’s sanctions,” Zarif reiterated.

Zarif made the remarks in reaction to President Trump telephone conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday to ask if South Korea could send medical equipment to the U.S. to help combat the coronavirus.

Iranian Non-Governmental Organizations in a letter to the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres demanded the removal of the US anti-Iran sanctions.

In the letter, the organizations some of whom hold UN consultative status warned the world that the lives of Iranians has put in danger because of the US santions admid the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19.

The post IRAN FM: Coronavirus spares no nation appeared first on IRAN This Way.

In an edict to Major General Baqeri on Thursday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei emphasized the need for the establishment of a “health and treatment base” to prevent further spread of the ongoing epidemic in the country.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued an edict to Iran’s top general, emphasizing the need for the establishment of a “health and treatment base” to prevent further spread of an ongoing coronavirus epidemic in the country.

In his Thursday edict, which was addressed to Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Ayatollah Khamenei first commended the services, which have been so far rendered to the people of Iran by the Armed Forces in their drive to hamper further spread of coronavirus.

Kianoush Jahanpour, the head of the public relations and information center of the Iranian Ministry of Health, said Saturday the new coronavirus has claimed 97 lives in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 611.

Jahanpour added that 1,365 fresh cases have been added to the number of the confirmed infections during the period, bringing the total to 12,729.

More than 4,300 of those with confirmed infections have recovered so far, he added.

Iranian medical staff cope with coronavirus with dancing

Iran asks IMF for $5bn in emergency funding to battle coronavirus as cases spike

Iran asks IMF for $5bn in emergency funding to battle coronavirus as cases spike

The Central Bank of Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $5 billion emergency funding to fight a coronavirus pandemic as the number of infections keeps growing in the country.

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Abdulnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank, said he had written to the IMF’s head, Kristalina Georgieva, last week to stress Iran’s “right to benefit from the fund’s $50-billion Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI).”

In the letter, the official highlighted the “widespread prevalence” of the virus — called COVID-19 — inside Iran and the need for the country to take measures to prevent further spread, treat the patients and counteract the economic aftermath of the disease.

“Given the size of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s quota in the fund, it calls for the use of the RFI fast financing facility of around $5 billion,” he added.

In a tweet on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also called on the IMF to extend support to Iran, who is a member state of the Washington-based lender.

Zarif said the IMF managing director “has stated that countries affected by COVID19 will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument. Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately.”

WHO: Iran doing its best in COVID-19 battle despite lack of equipment

Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) says the Islamic Republic of Iran is doing its best in fight against the novel coronavirus despite a lack of sufficient equipment and facilities mainly caused by the US sanctions.

“We know that Iran is doing its best, all it can … that’s what I appreciated,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

“They need lots of supplies, and … we have tried to support as much as we can, but there is still a shortage,” he added.

“We’re trying to mobilize more support for Iran,” Adhanom said.

The WHO chief’s remarks came a few hours after the Iranian Foreign Ministry slammed the United States for blocking the entry of foodstuffs and medicine into Iran through its unlawful sanctions.

Asked about the impact of US sanctions on Iran’s fight against the virus, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Wednesday, “The oppressive and illegal American sanctions, which [have been imposed on Iran] within the framework of the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign, have affected public welfare and health in Iran.”

“Although medicine and medical equipment should be exempt from the sanctions…the course of relevant transactions has been blocked,” he told media representatives via video-link on Wednesday. “However, they brazenly claim that medicine and foodstuffs are not subject to the sanctions,” the official added.

The post Anti Coronavirus operation all over IRAN/Photo+Video appeared first on IRAN This Way.