On Saturday, October 18, 2025 (26 Mehr 1404), a meeting was held at the Office of the Attorney General of Iran between Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohebi, the Honorable Attorney General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Dr. Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Secretary-General of the Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association. The session was also attended by Dr. Vahid Mirhosseini, Deputy Attorney General for Public Rights and Crime Prevention; Dr. Mohammad Hossein Sadeghi, Director General of the Office for Crime and Social Harm Prevention; Dr. Sharif Torkaman-Nejad, Scientific Advisor; Dr. Nader Asgari, Technical Advisor; and Hamidreza Shahsavari, Legal Advisor to the Association.
During the session, the Honorable Attorney General emphasized that two major judicial challenges in the country—namely theft and drug-related crimes—are both closely linked to tobacco use, which often serves as a gateway to these issues.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Sadeghi presented an overview of the current situation regarding tobacco use, existing laws and regulations, and actions undertaken by the Office of the Attorney General in this field. Dr. Masjedi then elaborated on ongoing national efforts and the role of the Association in advancing tobacco control policies.
Following these discussions and the Attorney General’s directives, several key points were highlighted:
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Upholding moral and ethical values as principles superior to any written law.
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Recognizing that family and social ethics form the foundation of civic and public rights.
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Emphasizing cultural and educational measures to stigmatize tobacco use and promote public awareness in alignment with the Supreme Leader’s call for “Jihad of Clarification.”
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Reinforcing coordination between legal and religious authorities to ensure effective enforcement and oversight of tobacco control laws, including formal correspondence with the Office of the President, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant organizations.
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Stressing the importance of holding regular meetings of the National Tobacco Control Headquarters with active participation from representatives of the Attorney General’s Office, in accordance with the law ratified by the Parliament.
This high-level meeting signifies a growing intersectoral collaboration between Iran’s judiciary and public health advocates, aiming to strengthen the legal and cultural foundations of tobacco control and protect public welfare across the nation.
