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Smoking deaths in Iran surpass 50,000 annually: Report
Hossein Farshidi, Deputy Health Minister, highlighted that over 50,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco use, costing billions in healthcare.
Speaking at a National No Smoking Week (May 25 to 31) press conference, Farshidi emphasized the detrimental effects of smoking and the need for higher taxes on tobacco products.
He pointed out that the appearance of cigarettes has changed over the past decade, with a worrying trend of increased usage among young people, particularly girls. He also criticized media portrayals that glamorize smoking.
Farshidi stressed the illegality of e-cigarettes in Iran, stating that they are neither produced nor imported legally and that the ministry is actively working to curb their distribution.
He also mentioned that the tobacco tax revenue from last year was not allocated to the Health Ministry.
In response to a question about oxygen hookahs, Farshidi explained that a pilot project is underway in some provinces to replace traditional hookahs with oxygen versions, which are considered less harmful.
Jafar Jandaghi, the head of the Occupational and Environmental Health Center of the Health Ministry, noted the rising trend of smoking among teenagers and called for stronger enforcement of anti-tobacco laws in public places.
Behzad Valizadeh, Head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, reported a significant increase in hookah use and daily smoking rates among women.
He advocated for higher pricing and stricter regulation of tobacco products to reduce consumption.
Valizadeh also highlighted the ministry’s efforts to ban online sales of tobacco and to remove tobacco products from the household consumption. He called for increased public awareness and educational initiatives to combat the harmful effects of
smoking.