Tehran, Karafarinane Eghtesad – Hossein Zolfaghari, the secretary general of the Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said on Monday that the imposition of unilateral and cruel sanctions on Iranian citizens and the government not only hindered efforts to combat drug trafficking but also increased the costs of healthcare programs.

Zolfaghari made these remarks in the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which is taking place from March 10 to 14, 2025, in Vienna, Austria.

He called for the end to the sanctions and for the provision of effective technical and equipment support for countries on the frontline of combating drug trafficking. This support aims to facilitate the implementation of various resolutions from the CND and the United Nations Human Rights Council, he also said.

The Iranian official offered advice for effectively addressing this global issue, emphasizing the need for enhanced collaboration, improved data and experience exchanges, technical assistance, and the provision of necessary equipment and technologies to countries affected by the cultivation, production, and transit of drugs.

Zolfaghari is scheduled to hold bilateral and multilateral talks with the directors of the CND, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Narcotics Control Board, as well as ministers and delegations of other nations during his visit.

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