Iran Boosts Pharmaceutical Production to Counter Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - As Western sanctions continue to strain Iran’s economy, local pharmaceutical and tech companies are stepping up efforts to develop homegrown solutions, particularly in the medical sector.
Iranian lab technicians are working to enhance the quality and efficiency of domestically produced medicines.
One of the country’s largest pharmaceutical firms, Zist Takhmir, told CNN that it was among the first in Iran to produce cancer medications.
“Our production uses modern equipment,” the lab director said, adding that safety protocols are strictly followed for all staff, both in terms of protective gear and manufacturing procedures.
In addition to cancer treatments, Zist Takhmir also produces probiotics at scale.
The company operates out of the Pardis Technology Park near Tehran, a vast innovation hub that houses over 400 companies -from major industrial firms to small startups.
With sanctions tightening, Tehran is focusing on boosting local manufacturing, particularly in high-tech industries.
“We think that sanction is not a good phenomenon, but in one or two aspects, it is very good for us. Because before sanction, we import many of these products from other countries as well. After sanction, we had to establish them inside the country, and many of the products you see now made in Iran are the result -positive result- of the sanctions,” the park’s director of international affairs told CNN reporter Fred Pleitgen.
This push is most evident in the medical technology sector, where management showcased a range of locally manufactured items -from small implants to complete operating room setups.
Although medical goods are technically exempt from sanctions, Iranian hospitals struggle to pay international suppliers, limiting access to Western equipment.
“That’s why we have a very deep depth of the production here,” a manager explained. “Every year, we are doing about 10,000 (medical) beds in the country to get the optimum rate of the bed and the population. And at this stage, we are doing 85% of the equipment that needs for new hospitals.”
Like much of the country, many at the technology park are closely following nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the Trump administration, hopeful that a resolution could bring relief from US sanctions.
Still, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi acknowledged the talks are difficult.
“The negotiations are more complex than something that could be resolved in just two to three meetings,” he said. “The fact that we are now on a reasonable path, in my view, is itself a sign of progress.”
With no guarantee of a breakthrough, Iran’s leadership continues to prioritize domestic production over waiting for external relief.
