The Year That Was: Best of ‘Iran First’ in 2025, the year of major Iranian breakthroughs

By Ivan Kesic

In 2025, Iran consolidated its standing as an increasingly influential scientific actor, marking notable achievements across medicine, industry, energy, education, and space science.

As the year draws to a close, the country’s scientific and technological landscape reflects sustained progress powered by domestic expertise, institutional continuity, and strategic investment in knowledge-based industries.

Despite external constraints, Iranian researchers, engineers, physicians, and students advanced solutions that met pressing national needs while contributing to global scientific domains.

Innovation spanned both applied and frontier research, from cutting-edge cancer diagnostics and breakthroughs in nuclear medicine to high-efficiency gas turbines, electric heavy vehicles, and lunar science instruments.

Healthcare emerged as a particular strength. Advances in reproductive medicine, regenerative therapies, and complex surgical procedures reinforced Iran’s leadership within the region.

Parallel strides in industrial manufacturing and energy technology underscored a long-term emphasis on self-reliance and export capacity.

Meanwhile, exceptional performances by Iranian students in international Olympiads highlighted the vitality of the country’s human capital pipeline.

Taken together, these developments portray a science and technology ecosystem that is increasingly mature, outward-looking, and integrated into global knowledge flows.

Surgical assistant device transforms cancer margin detection

In December 2025, an Iranian knowledge-based company introduced a surgical assistant device that significantly improves the precision and speed of breast cancer surgeries.

The device, designed to identify cancerous tissue margins during operations, reduces diagnostic time from up to 45 minutes to approximately 15 seconds.

Using a fine probe equipped with advanced sensing technology, surgeons can immediately determine whether tissue is cancer-free, suspicious, or malignant while the patient is still in the operating room.

This capability minimizes the need for repeat surgeries, lowers patient stress, and reduces healthcare costs.

Beyond its clinical benefits, the device reflects Iran’s growing sophistication in medical instrumentation, an area traditionally dominated by imports.

Developed through collaboration between engineers, oncologists, and academic researchers, the technology has undergone clinical validation and attracted patent registrations in multiple countries.

Its introduction illustrates how Iranian firms are translating research into practical solutions that meet international standards, while strengthening domestic healthcare autonomy and positioning Iran as a competitive innovator in surgical technology.

Locally manufactured metro trains advance industrial self-reliance

Iran’s rollout of domestically produced metro trains in 2025 marked a significant step in the localization of complex transportation technologies.

The project, which achieved high levels of domestic content, reflects years of coordinated policy aimed at reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for critical urban infrastructure.

Iranian engineers successfully integrated propulsion systems, control electronics, braking mechanisms, and carriage design into a fully functional train set suitable for metropolitan networks.

The initiative carries broader economic and strategic implications. By mastering metro train production, Iran has strengthened its industrial supply chain, created skilled employment, and retained technical knowledge within national institutions.

Moreover, officials have emphasized export potential, particularly to regional markets seeking cost-effective urban rail solutions.

The metro project demonstrates Iran’s ability to absorb, adapt, and innovate in large-scale engineering systems — a capability that supports sustainable urban development and reinforces confidence in domestic manufacturing capacity.

Iran’s expanding influence in global fertility science

In the year 2025, Iran further solidified its reputation as a global center for fertility science and reproductive medicine.

Institutions such as the Royan Institute and Avicenna Research Institute continued to lead cutting-edge research in assisted reproductive technologies, stem cell applications, and infertility treatments.

Iran’s clinical success rates now rival those of leading international centers, while treatment costs remain significantly lower - attracting patients from many other countries. 

A key factor behind this success is the localization of advanced medical equipment and laboratory technologies amid Western sanctions on the country.

Iranian researchers have developed domestically produced cryopreservation systems, embryo culture media, and diagnostic tools, reducing dependency on imported technologies.

These innovations have improved accessibility for patients and enhanced research flexibility. As a result, Iran has become a destination for medical tourism in fertility care, attracting patients from across the region and beyond.

The sector’s growth underscores how sustained investment in biomedical research can translate into both scientific leadership and tangible social impact.

Iran’s entry into lunar science and electric frontier research

Iran this year achieved a notable milestone in space science by joining China’s Chang’e-8 lunar mission, contributing a scientific instrument designed to measure the Moon’s surface electric potential.

This participation places Iran within the framework of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a long-term multinational initiative focused on sustainable lunar exploration.

The instrument reflects Iran’s growing expertise in space-grade electronics, materials science, and environmental measurement systems capable of functioning under extreme lunar conditions.

Beyond the technical achievement, the mission represents a strategic form of scientific diplomacy, allowing Iranian researchers to collaborate with international partners and access high-value scientific data that would lead to other major breakthroughs.

By contributing to fundamental research on lunar electrostatics — a field relevant to future human and robotic missions — Iran demonstrates that its space program is evolving beyond satellite launches toward deeper scientific engagement with planetary exploration.

Portable CNC milling machine redefines industrial maintenance

In November 2025, Iran unveiled its first domestically developed portable CNC milling machine, a breakthrough with significant industrial implications.

Unlike conventional CNC systems that require fixed installations, this portable machine can be deployed directly at industrial sites, enabling precision machining and repairs without dismantling heavy equipment.

The technology is particularly valuable for sectors such as power generation, oil and gas, and heavy manufacturing, where downtime is costly.

By enabling on-site repairs with micrometer-level accuracy, the machine reduces operational disruptions and maintenance expenses.

The development also signals Iran’s growing mastery of advanced manufacturing technologies, including control systems, high-precision mechanics, and software integration.

Achieving this capability domestically enhances industrial resilience and positions Iranian manufacturers to compete in specialized global markets where portability and precision are increasingly valued.

Iranian students shine on the global Olympiad stage

Iranian students achieved exceptional success in international science Olympiads in 2025, securing a record number of medals across various disciplines, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy.

These performances reflect the depth of Iran’s talent development systems, which combine rigorous academic training with early identification of gifted students.

Olympiad success carries significance beyond medals. It demonstrates the effectiveness of Iran’s STEM education pipeline and highlights the country’s long-term investment in human capital.

Many Olympiad alumni go on to become leading researchers, engineers, and innovators, both domestically and internationally.

The 2025 results reinforced Iran’s reputation as a consistent global competitor in advanced scientific education, while offering a glimpse into the future strength of its research and innovation ecosystem.

Gas turbine exports to Russia signal strategic energy shift

Iran’s export of domestically produced gas turbines to Russia in 2025 marked a strategic turning point in its energy technology sector, moving the country from a buyer in the global energy technology market to a recognized seller of complex capital goods.

This transaction is emblematic of a deeper capability built over years of domestic development under restrictive international conditions.

The turbines, which form the beating heart of power plants and pipeline compressor stations, represent a high-value, engineering-intensive product sector long dominated by a handful of Western firms.

By entering this market as an exporter, particularly to a major industrial power like Russia, Iran has demonstrated not only the technical proficiency of its manufacturing base but also the strategic autonomy to establish new, resilient trade partnerships in critical infrastructure sectors.

This achievement underscores a transition towards technological sovereignty, where domestically developed solutions meet internal demands and create new avenues for international cooperation and economic engagement, altering traditional dynamics in a key industrial domain.

Regional leadership in reproductive medicine research output

Academic metrics for 2025 placed Iran at the forefront of reproductive medicine research within its region, as measured by volume and impact of scientific publications.

This leadership reflects sustained investment and focused scholarly activity in fields such as infertility treatment, embryology, and assisted reproductive technologies.

The concentration of research output indicates a robust ecosystem comprising medical universities, specialized clinics, and research institutes that prioritize this area of healthcare.

High publication rates are often a precursor to clinical innovation and improved standards of care, suggesting a deepening pool of expertise that benefits domestic healthcare services.

Furthermore, such academic prominence enhances Iran's role in the global scientific dialogue on reproductive health, facilitating international collaborations and positioning local researchers as contributors to worldwide knowledge in a sensitive and technologically advanced field of medicine.

ADAK 150AC electric hauler enters the global heavy vehicle arena

The unveiling and development of the ADAK 150AC all-electric mining hauler positioned Iran's automotive and heavy machinery sector in direct conversation with global industry leaders.

This heavyweight vehicle, designed for the rigorous demands of open-pit mining, represents a formidable engineering challenge, requiring immense torque, robust durability, and innovative energy management systems.

Its development signals Iran's capacity to undertake ambitious projects in the strategically important and technologically evolving domain of electrified heavy transport.

By focusing on a niche yet critical segment like mining haulage, Iranian engineers have demonstrated an ability to address specific industrial needs with modern, sustainable technology.

This project not only has potential implications for modernizing domestic mining operations but also serves as a statement of intent, showcasing a level of sophistication that could eventually compete in international markets for specialized industrial vehicles.

MGT-75 gas turbine elevates Iran into an elite technology group

The development and successful deployment of the MGT75 gas turbine placed Iran within the elite global club of countries capable of designing and manufacturing F-class turbines, the workhorses of modern, high-efficiency power generation.

This achievement is the culmination of a long-term strategic program to master the complete cycle of gas turbine technology, from advanced metallurgy and blade cooling to complex control systems.

F-class turbines operate at extremely high temperatures and pressures to maximize efficiency, requiring mastery over materials science, precision engineering, and thermodynamic design.

Attaining this capability means Iran can now plan and build large-scale, efficient power generation infrastructure independently, securing a critical component of national energy security.

It also provides a foundation for future advancements in even more efficient turbine designs and creates a high-value export commodity, as demonstrated by the subsequent deals with international partners.

Plasma-based wound treatment clinic expands advanced care

The establishment of a specialized wound care clinic in Isfahan utilizing plasma-based therapies in the summer of 2025 highlights Iran's application of advanced physics to persistent clinical problems.

This medical initiative employs non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma, a technology that generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species capable of disinfecting wounds, stimulating tissue regeneration, and managing chronic infections without the use of antibiotics.

The clinic's operation represents a successful translation of laboratory-scale biophysics research into a standardized, patient-facing clinical service.

It addresses a significant healthcare burden—chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers—with a non-invasive, innovative technology.

This achievement points to a growing interdisciplinary nexus between physics, engineering, and medicine in Iran, resulting in tangible healthcare solutions that are both modern and tailored to local needs, potentially offering a model for advanced wound care management.

Human-tissue heart valves strengthen Iran’s medical export profile

Iranian researchers and companies made significant strides in 2025 in developing and commercializing heart valves derived from engineered human tissues, a breakthrough with the potential to reshape segments of the global medical device market.

Unlike mechanical or animal-derived biological valves, these tissues are engineered from human cells, offering the prospect of superior biocompatibility, reduced need for anticoagulant drugs, and potentially longer durability, especially for younger patients.

Mastering the complex processes of tissue decellularization, recellularization, and sterilization places Iran at the forefront of a cutting-edge field in regenerative medicine.

The progress in this area indicates not just scientific capability but also the industrial capacity to produce a consistent, safe, and effective high-stakes medical implant.

This innovation promises to improve domestic cardiac care dramatically and positions Iran as an emerging exporter of high-value, life-saving biomedical products.

Indigenous development of ECT-based cancer therapy

In 2025, Iranian scientists introduced a domestically developed electrochemotherapy (ECT) approach for cancer treatment.

The therapy combines electrical pulses with chemotherapy agents to enhance drug uptake by cancer cells, improving treatment effectiveness while limiting systemic side effects.

This achievement highlights Iran’s capacity to innovate within complex biomedical domains that require close coordination between engineering, oncology, and clinical practice.

Developing ECT technology domestically expands treatment options for patients and reduces reliance on imported systems.

It also positions Iran as an active participant in the global search for more precise and less invasive cancer therapies.

Rhenium-188 production breaks international monopoly

The successful domestic production and medical application of the radioisotope Rhenium-188 (Re-188), announced in 2025 and overseen by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), marked a major achievement in nuclear medicine.

Re-188 is a therapeutic isotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy, particularly for treating painful bone metastases from cancers like prostate and breast cancer.

Its production requires a nuclear reactor and sophisticated radiochemical processing facilities.

Achieving self-sufficiency in producing this short-lived, clinically vital isotope ensures reliable, affordable access for Iranian patients and hospitals, making advanced palliative and therapeutic cancer care more accessible.

This accomplishment highlights the peaceful application of nuclear technology for public health, turning complex nuclear infrastructure into a direct contributor to the national healthcare system and demonstrating high-level competency in radiopharmaceutical science.

Pioneering in-utero fetal surgery in West Asia

Iranian surgical teams achieved a regional medical milestone in 2025 by performing pioneering in-utero fetal surgery for a serious congenital disease.

This type of intervention involves operating on a developing fetus while still in the womb to correct life-threatening or severely disabling anatomical defects before birth.

The procedures demand an extraordinary level of coordination between highly specialized teams in maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric surgery, anesthesiology, and advanced imaging.

Successfully conducting such surgery places Iran's medical community at the very forefront of perinatal care in West Asia.

It signifies a leap in capability, moving from managing complications after birth to proactively correcting them in-utero, which can dramatically improve long-term outcomes for children.

This achievement reflects deep expertise, courageous innovation, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in specialized healthcare.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir