TEHRAN - Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif has praised cordial relations with Cuba, which recently saw bilateral cooperation in the fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering, especially the production of vaccines.
Zarif met with Dr. Vicente Vérez Bencomo, director-general of the Finlay Institute of Vaccines (IFV), a Cuban epidemiological research institute, in Tehran.
The Cuban scientist, for his part, provided explanations about the cooperation between the vaccine institutes of the two countries on the production of a COVID-19 vaccine and its unique features.
He thanked Zarif and the Iranian Foreign Ministry for working to swiftly advance bilateral cooperation towards developing the joint vaccine.
During the meeting, the Cuban ambassador to Tehran described as very important Zarif’s last year visit to Havana at the start of cooperation between the Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI) and the IFV for the joint production of the COVID-19 vaccine.
3rd Clinical Trial Phase of ‘Fakhra’ Vaccine to Begin Soon

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami said that the third clinical trial phase of the “Fakhra” vaccine will begin in the coming weeks.
General Hatami said that the second phase of the ‘Fakhra’ vaccine’s clinical trial was carried out successfully and the relevant report will be sent to the Health Ministry.
He expressed hope that the third clinical trial phase of the vaccine will begin within the next 15 days.