Tobacco Burden

The government spends $5 million per day (200 billion rials) to treat diseases caused by tobacco smoke, said the deputy head of the Majlis Health Commission Mohammad Hossein Qorbani, citing a recent survey. Official figures indicate that almost 15% of Iranians (1.7% of all women and 23.3% of all men) are regular smokers, Mehr News Agency reported. However, a far greater number smoke occasionally or have tried it at some point in their lives. Smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body. It is the leading cause of preventable death.