A center run by the Iranian Defense Ministry started the third phase of clinical trials on Fakhra vaccine on Monday.
In comments at the event, Ashtiani said the Ministry of Health will be supplied with 20 million doses of Fakhra vaccine by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2022).
The minister also said that after inauguration of a new plant, the monthly production of the vaccine will rise to 5 million doses.
Fakhra, named after senior scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was assassinated in November 2020, has been developed by the Sepand Organization of the Iranian Defense Ministry, a research center administered by the late scientist.
The Iranian Health Ministry has licensed the emergency use of Fakhra and two other homegrown vaccines named Barekat and Pasteur.