TEHRAN – 25 May 2025 – The recently-appointed FAO Representative to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Farrukh Toirov, presented his credentials to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday 25 May 2025 and officially commenced his assignment.Mr. Toirov, national of Tajikistan, brings over 20 years of extensive experience in international development and agricultural programming to his new role. His diplomatic mission in Iran marks the beginning of a new chapter in FAO's cooperation with the country, aiming to strengthen collaboration in the areas of agricultural production and productivity, fisheries, food safety, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, climate change mitigation and reduction.Prior to his appointment in Iran, Mr. Toirov held several key positions within FAO, including Deputy FAO Representative in Pakistan and Senior Programme Officer heading FAO’s provincial office in Peshawar. Over the years, he has managed diverse portfolios across multiple regions, including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation (Chechnya), Somalia, Ukraine, and Pakistan.Mr. Toirov’s appointment reaffirms FAO’s continued commitment to supporting Iran in achieving its national development priorities.

TEHRAN – In an effort to enhance the overall resilience of Iran’s national AIDS program and HIV testing capacity, Iran’s Health Ministry, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have convened a meeting to share expertise.The two-day knowledge and experience-sharing meeting took place in Tehran on April 29-30, focusing on accelerating Iran’s HIV response. This multi-stakeholder engagement brought together more than 30 experts from the two countries and UNAIDS to explore pathways to establishing a domestic manufacturing capacity for HIV rapid diagnostics, which represents a sustainable pathway to eliminate the HIV testing gap in Iran.This meeting was organized within the framework of a Joint Agreement signed between CICETE and UNAIDS in April 2024, funded by China’s voluntary financial support within the South-South Cooperation framework.The agreement, which is in line with the priorities of Iran’s National AIDS Control Program and China’s Global Development Initiative, combines supply chain, capacity development and knowledge exchange solutions to strengthen an important pillar of Iran’s national HIV response, namely knowledge of HIV status, the first of the global 95-95-95 targets. This “first 95” is the key to controlling Iran’s HIV epidemic. The first of the United Nations’ 95-95-95 targets to end the HIV epidemic is for 95 percent of people living with HIV to know their HIV status by 2025. HIV testing is therefore essential to achieving “the first 95”. Setting the tone for the rich discussion were opening remarks from the UN Resident Coordinator in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Stefan Priesner; the UNAIDS Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions, Eamonn Murphy; the Deputy-Director of China’s National Center for STD/AIDS Prevention and Control (NCAIDS), Xu Peng; and the Advisor on International Affairs to Iran’s Deputy-Minister of Health, Mohammad-Reza Rahbar.This project not only manifests many of the core values of multilateralism but also paves the road for further collaboration between the I.R. Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and UNAIDS in the field of HIV and health. It falls squarely within the framework of biomedical and scientific cooperation between the two countries, announced by Iran’s Minister of Health and Medical Education, Mohammad Reza Zafarqandi, during his recent official trip to China. UNAIDSThe Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Development Program (UNDP),  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Women, International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank— works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Kerman, Iran – As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen Iranian pistachio export standards, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has dispatched a technical delegation to Kerman Province to assess and improve sampling and laboratory testing procedures for detecting contaminants in pistachios — one of Iran’s most valuable export commodities.The three-day mission was conducted under the joint Technical Cooperation Project of FAO and Ministry of Agriculture Jahad, titled “Improving Pistachio Production and Export through Establishment of Integrated Product Management,” and accompanied by Benoit Glaud, FAO International Consultant for Laboratory Development and Improvement.The mission aimed to evaluate sampling and analysis methods used in controlling mycotoxin (aflatoxin) levels in pistachios, in line with the EU Regulation 2023/2782, which sets maximum levels for contaminants in food.The FAO delegation visited Iranian Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) laboratories under the Ministry of Health, private-sector facilities including pistachio processing terminals, and pilot orchards across Kerman and Rafsanjan, as well as the Iranian Pistachio Research Institute (IPRI). During these visits, the team observed and assessed sampling procedures, testing protocols, and quality management systems for pistachios intended for both domestic and international markets.In addition to assessments, two training workshops were delivered by FAO, one of which was by Benoit Glaud for laboratory staff and traders focusing on the best international practices in sampling, aflatoxin detection, testing result quality controls, and regulatory compliance.Another event, co-organized with the Pistachio Research Institute, was held for pistachio growers and farmers, extension officers and experts from Kerman, Rafsanjan, Nough Rafsanjan and Sirjan. The focus was on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) covering advanced irrigation techniques, soil and nutrition management, integrated pest management strategies and improved horticultural practices. The aim was to enhance the practical skills and technical knowledge of stakeholders to support the production of high-quality and safe pistachios. Through field visits and consultations, the experts evaluated current sampling and analysis methods used by Iranian FDA laboratories, and with Ministry of Agriculture Jahad identifying potentials gaps and recommending continuous improvements to keep up with international standards and practices. The delegation also focused on strengthening regulatory alignment, enhancing laboratory capabilities for mycotoxin detection, and developing a technical action plan.   IFDA laboratories have technical capacities and expertise to provide reliable results for aflatoxins“At all stages in the pistachio production, processing, packaging and testing before export, I have met people with a very high level of expertise and understanding of the key points to ensure good pistachio quality for export. I express confidence that IFDA laboratories have the technical capacities and expertise to provide reliable results for aflatoxins and support the export sector. International food safety regulations are always evolving, and it is important to keep updated with the latest quality control procedure to deliver good results. This FAO project is supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran in this aspect,” Glaud said.By engaging with both public and private stakeholders, FAO sought to transfer the best global practices, build national capacity, and support sustainable improvements across the pistachio value chain.Launched in 2023, the pistachio project aims to promote sustainable and integrated pistachio supply chain management, improve productivity, support compliance with food safety regulations, and enhance market access. By addressing key quality and safety challenges, the project contributes to economic resilience, food and nutrition security, and Iran’s competitiveness in global markets.

Tehran, 7 May 2025 – Human development progress is experiencing an unprecedented slowdown according to the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) latest Human Development Report (HDR) 2025. The report shows how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could reignite development.Instead of seeing sustained recovery following the period of exceptional crises of 2020-2021, the report reveals unexpectedly weak progress. Excluding those crisis years, the meagre rise in global human development projected in this year’s report is the smallest increase since 1990.The 2025 HDR: "A matter of choice: people and possibilities in the age of AI" analyses development progress across a range of indicators known as the Human Development Index (HDI), which encompasses achievements in health and education, along with levels of income.The report underscores growing divides between high- and low-HDI countries, reversing decades of gains. As global challenges, from economic shocks to climate pressures, narrow traditional development pathways, the report urges countries to act decisively and inclusively.“For decades, we have been on track to reach a very high human development world by 2030, but this deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “If 2024’s sluggish progress becomes ‘the new normal’, that 2030 milestone could slip by decades – making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks.”Asia-Pacific gains, but uneven progress persists
While global progress is stalling, the Asia-Pacific region showed some of the fastest gains in human development from 1990 to 2023, with both East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia raising their HDI value by more than 50% to 0.775 and 0.672, respectively.Iran: Progress with room to grow
According to the report, Islamic Republic of Iran’s HDI stands at 0.779, ranking 75 out of 193 countries and territories, placing it in the “High Human Development” category. Between 1990 and 2023, Iran’s HDI value changed from 0.626 to 0.799, a change of 27.6 percent.Going forward, the Gender Inequality Index (GII) remains an area for improvement. Iran has the potential to leverage AI in advancing scientific and technological innovation, creating new opportunities for investment. A strategic approach could particularly emphasize equitable access to education, employment, and healthcare for women and girls, contributing to meaningful improvements in the GII.  The road ahead
“Amidst this global turmoil, we must urgently explore new ways to drive development,” Mr. Steiner said. “As AI continues its rapid advance across so many aspects of our lives, we should consider its potential for development. New capabilities are emerging almost daily, and while AI is no panacea, the choices we make hold the potential to reignite human development and open new pathways and possibilities.”The report contains the results of a new survey that showed people are realistic yet hopeful about the change AI can bring.Half of respondents worldwide think that their jobs could be automated. An even larger share—six in ten— expect AI to impact their employment positively, creating opportunities in jobs that may not even exist today. 
Only 13 percent of survey respondents fear AI could lead to job losses. In contrast, in low- and medium-HDI countries, 70 percent expect AI to increase their productivity, and two thirds anticipate using AI in education, health, or work within the next year.The report advocates for a human-centered approach to AI – which has the potential to fundamentally redesign approaches to development. The survey results show that across the world people are ready for this kind of ‘reset’.The report outlines three critical areas for action: 
•    Building an economy where people collaborate with AI rather than compete against it 
•    Embedding human agency across the full AI lifecycle, from design to deployment 
•    Modernizing education and health systems to meet 21st-Century demands"The choices we make in the coming years will define the legacy of this technological transition for human development," said Pedro Conceição, Director of UNDP’s HDR Office. "With the right policies and focus on people, AI can be a crucial bridge to new knowledge, skills, and ideas that can empower everyone from farmers to small business owners."The 2025 HDR is available at: https://www.undp.org/iran/publications/human-development-report-2025