Reuters Reuters
30 December, 2020, 1:07 pm
A nurse prepares to inject a volunteer taking part in an Iranian coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine trial in Tehran, Iran December 29, 2020. Organization of the Execution of Imam Khomeini s Order/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran launched human trials of its first domestic COVID-19 vaccine candidate, state media reported on Tuesday, which Tehran says could help it defeat the pandemic despite U.S. sanctions interfering with its ability to import vaccines.
Setad, a giant state-affiliated conglomerate controlled by Iran’s supreme leader, said production of the vaccine developed by one of its companies, Shifa Pharmed, could reach 12 million doses per month, six months after a successful trial ends.
Analysts believe Tehran’s cutting og gas supplies was meant to “punish” Baghdad.
Wednesday 30/12/2020
Nihran Bin Omar field north of Basra, Iraq, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad. (REUTERS)
BAGHDAD – Iran will resume normal gas flow to Iraq on Wednesday after reaching an agreement with the country on Tuesday over unpaid bills, Iraqi electricity ministry spokesman Ahmed Moussa told state television.
Iran’s state gas company said on Monday it had cut supplies to neighbouring Iraq over arrears of more than $6 billion. The Iraqi electricity ministry said the cuts placed Baghdad and other cities at risk of serious power shortages.
Iran claims that it has reduced the quantities of gas exported to Iraq due to the accumulation of unpaid Iraqi debt, although bilateral debt between the two countries in various sectors has never been a reason to halt economic exchanges between them before, analysts say.
WORLD / CROSS-BORDERS By Reuters Published: Dec 30, 2020 09:08 PM Iran will resume normal gas flows to Iraq on Wednesday after reaching an agreement with Iraq on Tuesday over unpaid bills, a spokesman for Iraqi electricity ministry said.
Iran s state gas company said on Monday it had cut supplies to neighboring Iraq over arrears of more than $6 billion. The Iraqi electricity ministry said the cuts placed Baghdad and other cities at risk of serious power shortages.
The Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex is seen in the city of Mahshar in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran on September 28, 2011. Photo: VCG
An agreement was reached during a meeting between Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, who is visiting Baghdad, and Iraqi counterpart Majid Mahdi to resume normal gas flow rates as of Wednesday evening, spokesman Ahmed Moussa told Reuters.
Iran starts human testing of first domestic COVID-19 vaccine Reuters 12/29/2020
DUBAI, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Iran launched human trials of its first domestic COVID-19 vaccine candidate, state media reported on Tuesday, which Tehran says could help it defeat the pandemic despite U.S. sanctions interfering with its ability to import vaccines.
Setad, a giant state-affiliated conglomerate controlled by Iran s supreme leader, said production of the vaccine developed by one of its companies, Shifa Pharmed, could reach 12 million doses per month, six months after a successful trial ends.
The first volunteers to take the vaccine were officials of the conglomerate and the daughter of its head, in an apparent effort to boost public confidence in the vaccine.
Iran to resume gas flows to Iraq after agreement on unpaid bills, Iraq ministry says reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.