Iran statement at CND Intersessional Thematic Discussions under Agenda Item 3
High Rates of Transmission of HIV Hepatitis C Virus and Other Blood-borne Diseases Associated with Drug Use
Statement of
Delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
CND Intersessional Thematic Discussions under Item 3:
High Rates of Transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C Virus and Other Blood-borne Diseases Associated with Drug Use
Vienna, 31 October 2025
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the distinguished Chair, the panellists, and the Secretariat for their tireless efforts, informative presentations, and insightful introductory remarks.
It has been more than two decades since Iran first began implementing treatment, rehabilitation, and harm reduction programs. These initiatives have been carried out through various centers across the country, providing support to individuals suffering from drug use disorders.
The demand and harm reduction programs focus on delivering essential services through mobile teams and centers, including the provision of sterilized syringes and needles, food, sanitary supplies, access to showers, temporary shelter, and low-threshold methadone for homeless and vulnerable drug users, particularly those at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. The success of these programs has been instrumental in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs).
As of October 2023, the total number of registered HIV/AIDS cases in Iran stands at approximately 24,000, with the majority of affected individuals aged between 25 and 40. Notably, 76.6 percent of these individuals are receiving state-provided medical treatment. The implementation of harm reduction measures has led to an 11 percent reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDS among IDUs in the past year, thanks to both preventive interventions and harm reduction activities.
In Iran, there are approximately 8,600 addiction treatment and harm reduction centers, including residential, outpatient, and inpatient facilities, staffed by nearly 42,000 professionals. Of these, nearly 7,200 centers focus specifically on the use of agonist drugs, whether governmental or non-governmental in nature. Additionally, specialized psychiatric hospitals and super-specialty hospitals have been established to treat individuals affected by stimulant drug use, such as methamphetamine users, including both children and adults.
In this regard, the UNODC has designated one of Iran’s treatment centers as a regional hub for research and treatment studies on drug use disorders.
It is worth underlining that over 80 percent of the harm reduction and addiction treatment programs are carried out by NGOs and the private sector. Currently, there are approximately 2,700 active NGOs in Iran, with 859 focused specifically on treatment, and 145 dedicated to protection and job creation for those recovering from addiction. These efforts reflect our strong commitment to ensuring that all individuals in need of treatment have access to the services they require.
To conclude, I would like to encapsulate our main activities related to this item and harm reduction in six below categories: