TEHRAN (Iran News) Aref made the remarks during the 64th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization. Highlighting the organization’s achievements in agricultural research, he stated that ensuring the country’s food security is not merely a slogan, but the result of measures taken in recent years in the agricultural sector—an approach that now serves as a key strategy of the current government.

Reviewing the challenges of the 1980s in agriculture, Aref recalled that at the time, the country’s strategy focused on increasing production and achieving self-sufficiency, particularly in essential commodities. He pointed to the wheat self-sufficiency celebration held in 2004 as an example. Today, he stressed, agricultural production must be planned with a realistic understanding of the country’s conditions and constraints.

Aref underlined the key role of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization in achieving food security, noting that while the organization has made valuable contributions, the government expects more given the country’s academic and expert capacity. “Future agriculture must be smart, data-driven, and knowledge-based, while also making proper use of indigenous knowledge,” he said.

Referring to the government’s regional production strategy—particularly in agriculture—Aref noted that Iran’s free trade agreement with member states of the Eurasian Economic Union presents a significant opportunity for agricultural exports. However, he said, realizing this potential requires higher productivity and improved quality of domestic products.

He stressed the necessity of utilizing modern technologies, saying there is no alternative but to adopt and localize the latest advancements. “The country benefits from strong scientific capacity and a young workforce capable of producing the technologies needed in the agricultural sector,” he added. In this context, he called for reforming cultivation patterns with the cooperation and consent of farmers, emphasizing that water-intensive crops such as rice and watermelon should not be grown in water-scarce regions.

Addressing climate change and declining water resources, Aref noted that such conditions had been predictable for years and that international warnings had long been issued. He urged the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization to adopt a problem-oriented approach and, in cooperation with universities and research centers, provide practical solutions to adapt Iran’s agriculture to environmental conditions.

During the meeting, a report was presented on the organization’s activities, including seed production, cultivation pattern reform, applied research, adoption of modern technologies, private sector partnerships, and training programs for farmers.

Board members also approved several measures, including the audit report for the year 1403 (2024–2025), the appointment of an auditor for the 1404 (2025–2026) fiscal year, the organization’s detailed budget, implementation of a comprehensive wastewater transfer project and construction of a treatment plant at the Isfahan Provincial Research Station, the establishment of solar power plants at research centers, the implementation of an agrivoltaic project in pistachio orchards, and revisions to national standards for nursery plant and mother garden health.

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IMIDRO said that more than 28.649 million tons of iron ore pellets were produced in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year, while the figure was 23.285 million in the same time span of the previous year.

Also, the iron ore pellet production rose 17 percent to 3.026 million tons in the ninth month of this year, from that of the previous year, which was 2.597 million tons.

As reported, Golgohar was the largest producer of pellets during the nine-month period with 9.346 million tons of production, followed by MIDHCO with 4.434 million tons, and Sangan with 3.268 million tons.

The data released by IMIDRO indicate that iron ore pellet production by major Iranian mining companies exceeded 46 million tons in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20, 2021), registering a 10 percent growth year on year.

The mentioned companies had managed to produce 41.7 million tons of pellets in the preceding year.

According to the data, Golgohar was the largest producer of pellets in the said year with 12.2 million tons of production, followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company with 7.3 million tons, MIDHCO with 6.2 million tons, and Khouzestan Steel Company with 5.5 million tons.

Iran’s iron ore pellet production capacity exceeded 66 million tons in the previous Iranian calendar year.

IMIDRO’s report on under-construction iron ore pellet production units in Iran indicates that a total of 25.92 million tons are expected to be added to Iran’s iron ore pellet production capacity by the time these units are completed in the fiscal year 1402 (2023-24).

Production of iron ore concentrate also reached 49.714 million tons during the previous calendar year to register a five-percent rise year on year.

According to the Industry, Mining and Trade Ministry data, of the mentioned figure 3.533 million tons were produced in the last month of the previous year (February 19-March 20).

As reported, the country’s major iron ore concentrate producers had managed to produce about 47.306 million tons of the mentioned product in the Iranian calendar year 1398.

Last year, major mining companies also produced 902,454 tons of granulated iron ore, to register a decrease of 54 percent compared to the preceding year (1,965,733 tons).

In its outlook plan for the Iranian calendar year 1404 (2025-2026) Iran has envisaged production of 55 million tons of steel per annum, and to achieve this target the country requires to extract 160 million tons of iron ore.

In a bid to prevent the exports of unprocessed minerals, creating more value-added and meeting the requirements of domestic producers for the raw materials, Iran has levied a 25-percent duty on the exports of raw minerals (especially iron ore) since September 2019.

The duty is aimed at encouraging the production of more processed minerals such as pellets and concentrate instead of selling the raw minerals.

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The MOU was signed on Saturday, in a ceremony attended by CBI Governor Ali Saleh-Abadi, Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Reza Fatemi Amin, and Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ehsan Khandouzi.

Under the framework of the mentioned MOU, CBI and the Industry Ministry will cooperate with the acting banks to provide facilities to production units in various sectors including metals, construction, automobiles, home appliances, machinery, foodstuff, as well as chemical and petrochemical industries.

Unlike traditional methods of providing direct facilities by financial institutions, supply chain financing is a form of financial transaction wherein a third party facilitates an exchange by financing the supplier on the customer’s behalf.

Also, it refers to the techniques and practices used by banks and other financial institutions to manage the capital invested into the supply chain and reduce the risk for the parties involved

In this method, the production units can also receive other credit instruments such as bonds and negotiable instruments instead of cash facilities, which in addition to reducing the need for liquidity, bank resources are also directed to productive activities.

Based on the MOU, the plan is going to be implemented in a pilot phase and then will become fully operational after being finalized.

Speaking in the signing ceremony, Saleh-Abadi said the implementation of this plan will reduce the non-current receivables of banks and it will also make it easier to manage liquidity and monitor the appropriate allocation of banking resources.

Fatemi-Amin for his part said at the ceremony that with the supply chain financing, banks will pay facilities based on electronic invoices under the framework of the country’s comprehensive trade system.

“This makes receiving facilities transparent and companies cannot get multiple loans for one purpose,” he added.

The official noted that this method is a very effective work in a financing process that increases access to financial resources and prevents the diversion of resources, in other words, by implementing this plan, manufacturing companies and banks will both benefit.

Further in the ceremony, Finance Minister Ehsan Khandouzi underlined some of his ministry’s programs for developing the country’s productive sectors, saying: “Our main goal is to be able to shorten all the avenues that lead the financing of production sectors to support manufacturing and exporting enterprises so that traders and producers are less concerned about financing.”

Measures such as the supply chain financing scheme not only help and facilitate the financing process but also make the relationship between producers and the banking network more regular, he said.

According to Khandouzi, completing the financing chain, expanding the scope of the chain activities in industrial sectors, and completing the supporting banking network are three steps that should be monitored and followed in the pilot phase of the project and fully deployed next year.

Photo: representatives of acting banks sign MOU documents on Saturday as CBI Governor Ali Saleh-Abadi (2nd R), Industry Minister Reza Fatemi Amin (1st L) and Finance Minister Ehsan Khandouzi (2nd L) look upon.

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“When people’s resources are directed into the capital market, enterprises and companies listed on the stock exchange can have stronger financing from this market, and consequently have more investment and increases production and employment,” Mohammad-Ali Dehqan Dehnavi told IRNA on Monday.

Referring to the government’s performance in directing people’s capital to the stock market, Dehnavi said: “SEO believes the government has a great role to play in the country’s economy, the government is the macro policy-maker and the main regulator of the country’s economy, therefore in countries like Iran where the government is directly involved in the economic decisions, it should also be present in the production sector. “

Dehqan Dehnavi further emphasized that the government’s duty is to invite people into the capital market, adding: “The stock market is a platform that provides financing for production.”

According to the official, his organization has considered several incentive programs for supporting the shareholders and for protecting the newly joined members.

Following the supportive measures taken by the government, the Iranian stock market has been gradually getting back on track and experts believe that the market is regaining people’s trust.

Analysts and scholars believe that trades in the Iranian stock market will be much better and more reasonable in the second half of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) compared to the first half of the year.

According to them, reaching a possible agreement on the nuclear deal will have a positive impact on the capital market and pave the way for significant growth in the market.

“Reaching such an agreement will result in the reduction of the costs in major companies and will certainly have a positive impact on the market as a whole, especially on the shares of export-oriented companies,” stock market Expert Mostafa Safari said in late July.

“Reducing costs will eventually increase the profits of corporate stocks; Therefore, we hope that the lifting of sanctions will be implemented as soon as possible so that we can see the positive impact of this event in the market,” the analyst added.

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“Despite the economic sanctions, the production of home appliances in the country has grown significantly and we are on the verge of achieving self-sufficiency in the production of various types in this field,” Alireza Razm Hosseini said on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a washing machine production line in Khorasan Razavi Province, Razm Hosseini said: “over 13 million home appliances were produced in the country in the previous [Iranian calendar] year (ended on March 20), which was a great achievement for the industry.”

The official noted that the growth in the home appliance industry shows the surge of domestic manufacturing in this field, saying: “in the near future the Iranian home appliance market will no longer need foreign brands.”

Over the past few years, the Iranian government has been following a new strategy for supporting domestic production to neutralize the impacts of the U.S. sanctions while reducing the reliance of the economy on oil revenues.

The home appliances sector has been one of the pioneers in this regard and like many other areas, the production of home appliances has witnessed a significant rise in the past two years.

Back in May, Iran’s Deputy Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mehdi Sadeqi Niaraki said that the country’s home appliance industry experienced 78-percent growth in the past Iranian calendar year.

The growth was achieved despite the restrictions on the manufacturing sector, the official said, adding, “While foreign brands left Iran, manufacturers were able to achieve this leap by relying on domestic capacities.”

Niaraki had previously said that considering the Iranian home appliance industry’s infrastructure and capacities, the country will be able to become a net exporter of such products in the near future because most of the raw materials needed by the mentioned sector are produced domestically.

“Today we have the necessary manpower, knowledge, and infrastructure in the field, so there is no reason to look for foreign sources to meet the country’s demands,” he said in early April.

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In comments at a meeting of the Administration’s Economic Coordination Headquarters on Sunday,Rohani stressed the need for collective efforts for the materialization of the new Iranian year’s objectives.

In a televised speech at the beginning of the new year on March 20, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the Iranian nation’s victory in confronting the enemy’s maximum pressures, and chose “production: support and the elimination of obstacles” as the slogan for the year 1,400 (March 2021-March 2022) .

The president said in the Sunday meeting that what matters the most in the current conditions is to strengthen production and improve the atmosphere for businesses, which he said require cooperation and synergy among all Iranian sectors and branches of power.

The elimination of obstacles and supporting domestic production requires tangible and practical actions, not mere words, the president added.

He also emphasized that arrangements for a rise in production should be made rapidly by avoiding bureaucratic complexities.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Deputy Oil Minister and CEO of National Petrochemical Company (NPC) says the production capacity of petrochemical sector will reach 86m tons by yearend and called for stopping launch of blind development in this sector.

Mr. Behzad Mohammad in an interview with ILNA highlighted the performance of petrochemical industry last year, saying that smartization of the petrochemical industry is the only way of remaining in the international market.

He said since last year, no new petrochemical complex has joined the industry and the production was almost the same as its preceding year. He further said 23m tons of almost 31m tons of marginal product were exported and remaining 8m tons were offered in the domestic market. He further said that 6m tons of 8m tons of products in the domestic market were offered in the bourse.

Mohammadi noted that the price of petrochemical products last year declined by 30 percent on average, noting that the total revenues of the petrochemical industry stood at $14.5b that $9.5b have been earned through exports and the remaining was earned in the domestic market.

He further said despite all woes and sanctions, the petrochemical industry earned 22 percent more forex than the ceiling which had been set by the NIMA and it means the industry injected $8.2b into the NIMA system, almost $600m more than its preceding year.

Mohammadi said that the outbreak of the virus has led to drastic slump in demand as well as decline in oil products consumption, adding that the fall in demand for crude oil led to 40 percent decrease in demand for petrochemical products.

He noted that 16 petrochemical projects are to come on stream by the yearend and by inauguration of those projects, the marginal product will soar from 31m to 37m tons, admitting that four projects out of 16 projects may be affected by the virus pandemic and they come on stream next year, reiterating that 12 projects will come on stream this year for sure. He said those projects worth over $12b.

He also warned about uncalculated and blind development of petrochemical projects, adding that the projects should be based on the demands and markets.

Mohammadi added that currently, the refineries and petrochemical companies produce some 985,000 tons of propylene,  175,000 tons shy of the domestic demand, noting that the propylene production will hit 1950,000 tons by 2025 which will be 700,000 tons shy the domestic need.

He predicted that the production capacity in this sector to hit 86m tons by the yearend.

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According To Iran News, Iran’s deputy agriculture minister said on Sunday that output for wheat seed is expected to increase by nearly a third to reach 200,000 metric tons per year by 2025.

The production of wheat seeds in the network covered by us will increase by 33% from 150,000 tons to 200,000 tons within five years, Dr. Hossein Shirzad said.

He added that barley and legume seeds will grow by 100% to 55,000 tons, respectively. In other types of seeds, we will increase production by 2,000 tons.

“The production of forage seeds (clover to reach) has increased from 500 tons to 700 tons and can be increased up to 1000 tons if required by the provinces. Also, the production of corn hybrid seeds between rareripe and serotine cultivars has started with the participation of American Genetics Company and now 50 tons have been produced and there are plans to increase production up to 1000 tons in the program. In oilseeds, it is possible to produce 1200 tons of rapeseed hybrid seeds, 3000 tons of soybeans, and 400 tons of sesame seeds,” he said.

Shirzad, who is also the chief executive of Iran’s Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives, said, “Also, the program of production and supply of various seeds in the 98-99 crop year in 28 provinces of the country will reach a total of 190,000 tons.”

He said the CORC plans to introduce new varieties in major seed production plants in Iran, including in facilities in Dezful and in Jiroft, located in southwest and southeast of Iran, respectively.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – Supreme Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says this year’s target of a surge in domestic production would be totally achievable when the country has managed to launch a homegrown satellite into space.

Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday held a video conference with seven active manufacturers from different parts of Iran on the occasion of Laborers Week and as part of efforts to pursue the slogan of the year, “A Surge in Production”.

In the online meeting, the managers and a number of exemplary laborers delivered reports on the status of production and about their achievements, issues and problems. They also put forward solutions and proposals for settling the existing problems and realizing the slogan of the year.

In his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need to protect the natural rights of laborers, including a fair salary, regular pay without delays, and job security.

The Leader also praised the employers who have not laid off any employee after the outbreak of the coronavirus, describing it as a good approach.

“A key point is respecting workers’ rights. Fair and punctual payments and job security, which I’ve always stressed, are very important. Some of these gentlemen have mentioned that they haven’t fired any workers following the economic problems due to the coronavirus outbreak. This is very good,” the Leader said.

“Insurance, training, welfare and health services are workers’ rights and the responsibility of employers. Of course, if the needs of workers’ families including their children’s education are fulfilled, it will strengthen workers-employers relations, which is an auspicious thing,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

The Leader also highlighted the significance of domestic production in boosting the economy, saying, “Production can be compared to the body’s immune system. That is, if production is favorable and growing, invasive viruses like sanctions and oil prices cannot harm our economy.”

“Real cooperation between the labor force and employers can increase production and economic growth. The labor force should increase their skills and sense of responsibility; employers should increase the workers share from the income of the business,” the Leader emphasized.

“Some of our worker friends had complaints about legislation that overlooked workers’ opinions. Such regulations should definitely be designed justly, and business owners should take this into consideration,” Khamenei.ir quoted the Leader as saying in the video conference.

“Some people keep saying it’s impossible and we can’t, but we can. When we can launch a satellite into space with a speed of 7,500 m/s, have put a satellite into orbit, and have made significant progress in the defense industry, then we can achieve a surge in production too,” Ayatollah Khamenei underscored.

“The Iranian wisdom and thought that can build a satellite and set a goal of a 36,000 km orbit for the next satellite, certainly enjoy the same spirit, innovation and creativity needed to produce cars with a consumption of 5 litres/100 km and for production in other sectors,” the Leader added.

Last month, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched Iran’s first military satellite, dubbed Noor, into orbit.

The homegrown satellite was launched with a three-stage satellite carrier, dubbed Qassed (messenger), from a launch pad in Dasht-e Kavir, a large desert in central Iran.

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