Dr. Masjedi Appointed to Lead the National Execution of “Cultural and Social Tobacco Prevention” Resolution

Tehran, Iran — Per an official decree issued by the Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Dr. Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Secretary-General of the Iranian Anti-Smoking Association (IASA), has been appointed as the lead authority for the execution of the resolution titled: “Issues, Strategies, National Actions, and Inter-Agency Task Division for Cultural and Social Prevention of Tobacco Use in the Country.”

Official Mandate

The decree, issued by Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Dr. Abdolhossein Khosropanah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (following notification No. 24660, dated February 8, 2026), entrusts Dr. Masjedi with this critical responsibility for a two-year term.

This appointment serves to further the realization of the country’s “Cultural Engineering Map,” recognizing Dr. Masjedi’s extensive background, expertise, and dedication to tobacco control and public health prevention strategies.

Core Responsibilities

According to the mandate, Dr. Masjedi’s key objectives include:

• Execution and Oversight: Ensuring the effective implementation of the resolution.
• Stakeholder Mobilization: Establishing the necessary frameworks to maximize the engagement and capacity of government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious institutions, family support networks, media, and academic/expert communities.
• Leveraging Institutional Capacity: Utilizing existing resources, with a primary emphasis on the infrastructure and expertise of the Iranian Anti-Smoking Association (IASA).

Monitoring and Reporting

In accordance with Note 3 of the resolution, the decree mandates the design and implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation System. Dr. Masjedi is tasked with:

• Submitting analytical reports on a six-month basis.
• Utilizing performance indicators to assess implementation progress.
• Identifying operational challenges and proposing corrective policy recommendations to the Steering and Oversight Committee of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.

Conclusion of the Decree

The official statement concludes with a message of encouragement: “It is hoped that by relying on the Almighty, through a spirit of jihadist service, collective wisdom, and the engagement of elite experts and the public, you will succeed in realizing the cultural policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, promoting social health, and safeguarding the nation’s human capital.”