Iran’s minister of industries says the country faces an oversupply of key equipment needed to battle COVID-19, the disease caused by coronaviurs, saying his ministry plans to authorize exports of those items in the near future.
Alireza Razm Hosseini said on Saturday that exports would be allowed for ventilators, oxygen concentrators and face masks.
“Currently two large factories that manufacture ventilators to meet demands of the ministry of health are faced with an oversupply and are asking for exports permission,” said Razm Hosseini.
The minister said, however, that final export permits would be granted after a precise assessment is carried out about the current domestic demand.
Iran has increasingly relied on home-grown capacities to battle one of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus in the Middle East.
Recent government estimates suggested that the country was producing more than 20 million face masks per day.
This comes as Iran is currently grappling with a third surge in the number of COVID-19 infections although latest figures provided by the health ministry shows that the disease is slowing two weeks after a series of strict movement restrictions was enforced by the government.