WHO honors Iranian with 2026 tobacco control award
The World Health Organization (WHO) awarded its 2026 World No Tobacco Day prize for the Eastern Mediterranean Region to Abdolhossein Khosropanah, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, recognizing his role in advancing national strategies aimed at preventing tobacco use through cultural and educational policies.
According to an official report released by WHO on Saturday in connection with World No Tobacco Day 2026, Khosropanah was honored for helping steer Iran’s tobacco control framework toward preventive and culture-based measures, elevating the issue from a primarily health-related concern to a broader social and educational priority.
A centerpiece of the initiative was the adoption of a comprehensive national document outlining challenges, strategies, executive responsibilities, and coordinated actions for the cultural and social prevention of tobacco consumption. The framework brought together educational, cultural, and executive institutions under a unified roadmap for the first time.
WHO highlighted several measures associated with the initiative, including the assignment of clear responsibilities to key ministries and public institutions, a stronger focus on prevention in schools and educational environments, and enhanced monitoring mechanisms designed to curb indirect tobacco promotion in cultural products.
The recognition coincides with WHO’s 2026 World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products,” which seeks to counter marketing strategies that target young people and promote nicotine addiction.
Behnaz Valizadeh, another prominent figure in Iran’s tobacco control efforts, was also recognized for contributions in the field.