4,100+ women hold leadership roles in Iran’s knowledge-based companies

Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Iranian Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, says 4,133 women currently hold managerial positions in the country’s 10,000 knowledge-based companies.

According to the Communications and Information Center of the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, the “Iranian Women: Untold Stories” exhibition, held on March 10, 2025, showcased the achievements of Iranian women in various fields.

Organized by the Women’s Affairs Office of the Vice Presidency in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event aimed to promote women’s contributions to national development.

Speaking at the exhibition’s opening ceremony, Behrouz-Azar emphasized the Iranian government’s commitment to advancing women’s rights, citing improvements in healthcare, education, and economic participation.

She noted that despite international sanctions, Iran has achieved an increase in women’s life expectancy to 78 years, a 95% reduction in maternal mortality, and near-universal literacy among women. Additionally, women make up 40% of medical specialists, 30% of subspecialists, and 56% of new university entrants.

She also stated that women account for 24% of the country’s inventors, 32% of business association members, and 20% of entrepreneurship center managers. Furthermore, they manage 24% of strategic technology labs and actively participate in cooperatives and charitable organizations.

Behrouz-Azar reaffirmed that expanding women’s leadership roles in science and technology is a national priority, stressing that the government remains committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable innovation ecosystem.

Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Iran’s vice president for women and family affairs, highlighted that Iranian women have secured 3,950 international sports medals, with 935,000 professional female athletes and 85 representatives in international sports organizations. Women manage 51 sports federations and 70 athletic committees, while 9,000 female instructors contribute to the development of sports nationwide.

She also emphasized a 33 percent increase in female participation in the Paralympics, reflecting efforts to empower women with disabilities and ensure equal opportunities in athletics.

In the political sphere, she noted that since 2017, over 8,000 women have been trained for decision-making and policymaking roles. The current administration has appointed over 190 women to leadership positions, with four female officials currently serving in the cabinet.

Regarding technology and entrepreneurship, Behrouz-Azar stated that 31.5 percent of Iran’s tech sector workforce consists of women, with a strong presence in software development, digital transformation, and startup management. Women also lead over 12,000 companies and play an active role in Iran’s chamber of commerce and business innovation hubs.