Dr. Behzad Valizadeh highlights that the tobacco industry in Iran strategically exploits the country’s economic sanctions to portray itself as a vital contributor to employment and economic productivity.

The WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3 is actively participating in the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, currently being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17 to 22 November 2025. COP11 has convened Parties from all WHO regions to review progress, adopt decisions, and provide guidance to further strengthen implementation of the Convention.