Also Known As:
Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute
Weapon Program:
- Chemical
- Biological
A biological research institute that produces vaccines, antigens and sera for veterinary and human use; researches and diagnoses veterinary, poultry, and zoonotic diseases, and conducts biotechnology research; studied domestic soil samples to determine the ease with which virulent Bacillus anthracis (the causative agent of anthrax) strains could be isolated; studied Clostridium botulinum (the causative agent of botulism) neurotoxin for use in a vaccine; markets over 60 products, including: human vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, leishmania, and poliomyelitis, and veterinary vaccines against anthrax, blackleg, brucella, enterotoxaemia, foot and mouth disease, goat pox, sheep pox, horse tetanus, agalactia, haemorrhagic septicaemia, leptospira, bovine theileriosis, rinderpest, fowl cholera, fowl pox, fowl infectious bronchitis, and Newcastle; also produces sera and antigens.
Controlled by the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture and works with the Ministry of Health and Veterinary Organization; has six branches in the Iranian cities of Shiraz, Kerman, Marand, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Arak; director is reportedly Abdulhossein Dalimi; founded in 1925.
Sanctions
Sanctioned on July 22, 2010, by the government of Canada for involvement in Iran’s proliferation activities or affiliation with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), prohibiting (with some exceptions) its access to goods, funds, and related services in Canada.
Identified by the British government in February 1998 as having procured goods and/or technology for weapons of mass destruction programs.