Tehran, December 2024 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran, in coordination with the Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, organized a five-day specialised training on “Investigation of Crimes related to Drug Trafficking” for a group of senior police officers of the Iranian Anti-Narcotics Police, from 08 to 12 December 2024, in Tehran.  
The UNODC has consistently supported national partners by organizing a series of training workshops for the Anti-Narcotics Force. This particular workshop aimed to strengthen the operational knowledge and investigative skills of Iranian partners in addressing drug-related crimes. It was developed as part of UNODC Iran’s activities under its Country Partnership Programme with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The content was tailored based on feedback from participants in previous UNODC trainings and consultations with Iranian drug control authorities to identify the most relevant and needed topics. The training was conducted by two senior professional instructors from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.During the opening session of the event, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, UNODC Iran Country Representative, expressed his appreciation to all participants and UNODC’s national counterparts. He also expressed hope that similar capacity-building and awareness-raising initiatives could be organized in the future, subject to budget availability.Mr. Mohammad Narimani, Interim Director General of the International Relations Office of the DCHQ, emphasized on the importance of holding this event in Tehran and requested the participants to make use of this specialised training event organized for them to the most extent possible.
The Deputy Head of Anti-Narcotics Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Gholamreza Hamidikia, also expressed his gratitude to the continuous support of UNODC and encouraged the attendees to participate interactively by asking questions and sharing knowledge.
This specialised training which was designed to cover topics related to investigation of crimes related to drug trafficking was well received by the participants and assessment of the evaluation of the training workshop and feed backs received from the participants evidently indicated that the subjects covered by respected instructors were relevant to their expectations and in general the training session has been evaluated and rated as strongly fruitful and beneficial.
During the graduation ceremony, Mr. Alexander Fedulov presented certificates to the participants from the Islamic Republic of Iran. He expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation for funding the initiative and acknowledged the Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran for their support in organizing the training.This event was organized as part of the activities foreseen in the framework of the                                  Sub-programme 1 “Border Management and Illicit Trafficking” of UNODC Country Partnership Programme (2023 - 2026) for the Islamic Republic of Iran through the generous donation of the Russian Federation. It is hoped that with kind cooperation of the Russian Federation it would be possible to hold similar training workshops in the future.
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For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)
National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, email: sougand.babaei@un.org 

On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, UNODC Iran Country Representative, attended the ceremonial meeting which was planned and programmed by the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture. The meeting hosted representatives of Embassies, companies, industries and enterprises as well as non-governmental organizations and academicians. In his remarks, Mr. Mahmoud Najafi Arab, Chairman of Tehran Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture, referencing last year's report from the Parliamentary Research Center, emphasized that while numerous institutions are tasked with combating corruption and promoting transparency, integrity, and good governance, there is no clear and coordinated strategy to address the root causes of corruption. Despite the involvement of 19 different organizations in anti-corruption efforts, larger corruption cases continue to surface daily, indicating that these efforts have not been as effective as intended. Mr. Alexander Fedulov commemorated International Anti-Corruption Day, while emphasizing its alignment with the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). He highlighted the year’s theme, "Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity," he underscored the critical role of young people in fostering transparency and accountability. The youth, he stated, are not only deeply affected by corruption but are also vital to combatting it with their innovation and energy. He mentioned that this campaign will culminate in the 2025 Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC in Doha, where young leaders will directly engage with global decision-makers. Mr. Fedulov advocated for empowering youth and women, fostering partnerships across sectors, and reinforcing global collaboration to combat corruption effectively. With the continued support of the UNODC and a united effort, he expressed optimism in achieving lasting systemic change and setting the stage for impactful discussions at CoSP-11 in 2025. His Excellency Mr. Tamaki Tsukada, Ambassador of Japan highlighted Japan’s strong commitment to combating corruption both domestically and globally. He mentioned that anti-corruption measures will contribute to expansion of economic relationship with various other countries including Japan. He emphasized that Japan would continue to work with the international community to promote anti-corruption measures both in Japan and abroad.                                                                                                   ***For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of IranTel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, email: sougand.babaei@un.org

On 08 December 2024, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, the UNODC Iran Country Representative, participated in a high-level meeting at the Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ). The meeting, organized by the DCHQ, aimed to highlight Iran’s substantial efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.At the meeting, Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, Commander of the Iranian Border Guard, shared details of a major drug seizure in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. On 10 September 2024, Iranian forces successfully seized 2,400 kilograms of methamphetamine. This operation underscored the relentless commitment of Iran's border forces, who are at the forefront of combating the production and trafficking of drugs, particularly those originating in Afghanistan. Brigadier General Goudarzi emphasized that the seizure not only reflects the escalating challenges posed by methamphetamine production in the region but also the dedication of Iran’s border guards, law enforcement, and customs officials in addressing this issue. Mr. Fedulov praised the Iranian government for its steadfast commitment to tackling drug trafficking and stressed the importance of strengthened regional cooperation. He also emphasized the need for further international support to bolster collective efforts in combating drug trafficking across West Asia.The UNODC Country Representative stated that this successful operation will be presented to the international community as a testament to Iran's noble resolve in combating drug trafficking and its dedication to regional security. Mr. Fedulov expressed his gratitude to Iranian authorities for their invaluable contributions to this global challenge.                                                                           ***For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)
National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, Email: sougand.babaei@un.org

Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran – The World Health Organization (WHO) has handed over 4 trauma and emergency surgery kits (TESKs) to local focal points at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, Hormozgan, Kerman and Khorasan Razavi. Each kit contains medicines and equipment to perform 100 surgeries, enabling 400 emergency surgeries across the provinces.Supported by funding from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the donation will enhance disaster and emergency preparedness in these vulnerable regions.
 According to the International Disaster Database, since 2023, out of 12 natural disasters in the Islamic Republic of Iran meeting the criteria for database registration, 7 were reported in provinces covered by the project, including 4 hydrological disasters (floods), 2 meteorological events (storms) and 1 geophysical occurrence (earthquake).Limited access to emergency care in the target provinces – among the biggest in the country, they contain a large number of refugees who either live there or travel through the provinces to reach other areas – has led to high fatality and injury rates among affected populations. 
Together with efforts to improve capacity in prehospital care, previous donations of ambulances and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and mass casualty management care training, the TESKs will enhance emergency preparedness and disaster response.
The initiative demonstrates WHO’s and ECHO’s commitment to supporting communities in crisis and building resilience in the face of health emergencies.
The donations complement our work to holistically prepare for emergencies. As we work with alongside the Ministry of Health and Medical Education on infectious disease outbreak detection and response, the project has also helped strengthen public health surveillance capacities through the training of community health workers, allowing the health system to more rapidly detect and respond to public health emergencies.  
"These kits will help ensure that people injured in emergencies can get the critical care they need, when they need it," said WHO Representative and Head of Mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain. "By strengthening the capacity of local health care providers, we are helping to build resilience and save lives."
Early reports by the health facilities that have received the lifesaving medical equipment indicate that the support provided has been instrumental in saving critical patients among refugees and host communities.