TEHRAN – Airports across Iran have seen some 28 million fliers arriving and departing since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21), the head of the country's airport police has said.

“28 million air travels have been recorded in the country since the beginning of the year,” CHTN quoted Mohsen Aqili as saying on Wednesday.

All air travels were conducted without the slightest disorder and in complete security, the commander said.

“Alongside ensuring travel security, preventing drug trafficking is entrusted to the airport police, and this year, the police have diligently intercepted all kinds of trafficking.”

Currently, a combination of international and domestic technologies is at the disposal of airport police, which thoroughly supervise passengers, their scrutiny, and their security, Aqili explained.

“The most up-to-date security systems are stationed at the airports of the Islamic Republic, ensuring that no concerns arise for people during air travel.”

In a landmark decision, Iran agreed on visa exemptions for 32 nations last week. The visa-waiver program was approved for India, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Belarus, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Moreover, the Iranian government agreed to abolish visa requirements for tourist groups from Russia.

The Islamic Republic has previously had visited cancellations with some countries like Turkey, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria, in various forms - unilateral, bilateral, and group visa cancellations, including airport visas, which were implemented in some cases.

Based on an initial proposal, the tourism ministry requested abolishing visa requirements for passport holders from 68 countries, including Finland, Cyprus, and Luxembourg.

The latest data provided by the tourism ministry suggests the number of foreign arrivals in the country reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), which shows 48.5 percent compared to that of last year.

The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 27 are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

AFM