Iran announces in-person university return and rural games participation

Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, announced that Iran will participate in the World Rural and Nomad Games held during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Donyamali noted that the Iranian delegation is more organized and better prepared than in previous years. However, he expressed formal protest regarding the last-minute removal of Iran’s traditional sports demonstration program, which was intended to showcase local activities such as Pahlavani and Mil.

Separately, Iran’s Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Hossein Simayi Saraf, confirmed that universities will resume fully in-person classes starting in October. He dismissed rumors regarding a shift to hybrid or virtual learning due to energy or fuel concerns, stating that in-person education remains the government's priority. Saraf also discussed the transition toward ‘fourth-generation universities’ that focus on solving national issues, citing Ferdowsi University of Mashhad as a successful model.