Deal With Philip Morris to Produce Marlboro in Iran

Iranian Tobacco Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pishgaman Pakhsh Arman Gostar Company as the representative of Philip Morris International to import and jointly produce Marlboro cigarettes. 
“ITC and the representative of Philip Morris International signed the MoU in the presence of the industries minister last week,” Iranian parliamentarian, Nader Qazipour, told reporters, Mehr News Agency reported on Saturday. 
Ali Asghar Ramzi, the head of Iranian Tobacco Planning and Supervision Center, also confirmed the news, saying that preliminary works have begun and “we hope to obtain the permit for cooperation soon”. 
Marlboro accounts for a bigger share of cigarettes smuggled into the country.