The Barakat Foundation ( lit. The Blessing Foundation) is a charitable trust in Iran (a bonyad) focused on economic development projects in rural areas. It also has stakes in Iran's pharmaceutical industry. It is affiliated to the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order which is controlled by Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
In 2013, one of its senior officials stated that during the last five years, the foundation had invested more than $1.6 billion in development projects, as well as building 200 schools, 400 homes and health clinics; and “nearly 100 percent of the income of Setad and the Tadbir Group is placed at the disposal” of the foundation; however, these claims are impossible to verify because its accounts are not publicly available.
History The Barakat Foundation was established on 11 December 2007, two months after Mohammad Mokhber was elected as the leader of Setad, to perform activities in fields of entrepreneurship and the social and economic development in the deprived areas. The foundation was formerly managed by Aref Norouzi. The current manager is Amir Hosein Madani.
Following the statement by Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, i.e., “solve the problems of 1,000 villages. It would be good to develop 1,000 places or to build 1,000 schools. Prepare this organisation for this task”, Barakat was created as the affiliated department to Setad. The organization aimed to carry out construction projects in underdeveloped regions of the country as a “Leader's gift to people living in these regions”, according to the IRNA.
Activity Barakat Foundation aims to provide sustainable employment and facilitate processes in villages. As the head of the foundation's board of directors mentioned, Barakat Foundation is going to provide 10,000 jobs in rural and deprived regions of Iran till March 2019. In Sistan and Baluchestan province, Barakat Foundation is going to establish two factories for packaging and processing dates to support farmers. During five years, Barakat has supported several economic development projects, such as building schools, roads, housing units, and mosques, as well as providing water and electricity. In 2024, 217 job-creating enterprises across the country have been supported by the Barekat Foundation.
The Barekat Foundation, with an investment of 21 trillion tomans in Khuzestan province, is implementing extensive programs aimed at poverty alleviation and job creation. Among its key achievements is the completion of the North Yaran oil field development project, which involved a $585 million investment and has a daily production capacity of 30,000 barrels of crude oil. By utilizing domestic technology and equipment, this project marks a significant step toward self-sufficiency in the oil industry and creates employment opportunities. Furthermore, initiatives are underway to address war-related damages and bolster the resistance economy.
Construction of schools According to the report of the International Quran News Agency, the Barkat Foundation has built 2,000 schools in cooperation with the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order, and the 2,000th school was opened in March 2023.Inauguration of the 2000th Barkat School of the country in Sari International Quran News Agency Retrieved 4 March 2023 Among its other activities is the operation of 500 water supply projects to 500 deprived villages in the country.Exploitation of 500 water supply projects to 500 deprived villages of the country / Signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Barakat Foundation with two ministries to supply water to 500,000 villagers and rehabilitate 300 aqueducts and create 12,000 jobs tabnak.ir Retrieved 8 June 2021 Likewise, According to the CEO of this foundation: "Building schools with Iranian Islamic identity is on the agenda of Barkat Foundation."ساخت مدارس با هویت ایرانی اسلامی در دستور کار بنیاد برکت
The Barekat Foundation has contributed to developing educational infrastructure in deprived areas by inaugurating 4,635 schools, converting container schools into permanent ones, establishing vocational schools, distributing stationery packages, and launching educational systems.
Health services The Foundation has prepared health services for deprived populations and has supported over 60,000 cancer patients by building an equipped cancer clinic type 3. The Foundation has carried out 482 economic and entrepreneurship projects for 198,000 people who need a job in 31 provinces of the country. Six pharmaceutical companies affiliated to setad, under the administration of the Barakat Foundation is spending their income in for charitable movement.
According to published reports, the establishment of mobile hospitals in various regions, such as the 92-bed mobile Barakat Hospital in Khuzestan, the implementation of support programs for cancer patients and their companions, as well as assisting in equipping infertility treatment centers, are among other initiatives of the Barakat Foundation in the healthcare sector.خدمترسانی بیمارستان سیار ستاد اجرایی به ۷۰۰۰۰ نفر تاکنون Tasnim Retrieved 15 February 2025
Telehealth The Barakat Foundation and Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order (in cooperation with the Ministry of Health) have pursued/implemented the issue of Telehealth. According to the Minister of Health, Saeed Namaki: "... This great scientific work helps us to utilize a tool called 'telemedicine' in these (far) areas of the country. This new approach (telemedicine) allows us to increase productivity in the Islamic Republic of Iran's specialized manpower and provide health justice in the farthest areas of Iran. He also added, "It began in the farthest and most deprived parts of the country."Minister of Health: Corona should not hit us; telemedicine tabnak.ir 14 September 2020Minister of Health, corona, telemedicine. ilna Retrieved 14 September 2020
In February 2023, the Barkat Cancer Specialist and Subspecialty Hospital began operations as a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to oncology. This center, recognized as a super-specialized treatment institution, was established with an investment of approximately 1,200 billion Tomans. It offers a comprehensive range of services, including cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment, while also providing training for specialists and utilizing cutting-edge treatment equipment. Among the advanced technologies employed at this center are linear accelerators, CyberKnife systems, tomotherapy, and CT simulators. These devices have been introduced in a treatment center for the first time in West Asia, enabling precise and personalized treatment options. The center leverages modern technologies and advanced scientific methodologies to enhance the quality of treatment and research services in oncology.
Services for Arba'een pilgrims Among the activities of this foundation is related to its participation in infrastructure development and providing services to Arba'een pilgrims at the borders.Barkat Foundation's participation in infrastructure development and providing services to Arbaeen visitors Retrieved 9 September 2022Special services are provided by the country's most well-equipped mobile hospital in Amud 989, dispatching 24,000 pilgrims from underserved areas to Arbaeen. Retrieved 21 August 2025
Projects According to the CEO of Barkat Foundation, 57,000 construction projects have been initiated in Barkat Foundation, and nearly 52,000 of them have come to fruition. (Converting 1,000 school buildings into buildings/celebrating the construction of the 2,000th Barkat school in the decade of Fajr) تبدیل ۱۰۰۰ مدرسه کانکسی به ساختمانی/برگزاری جشن احداث دوهزارمین مدرسه برکت در دهه فجر
COVID-19 Vaccine
COVIran Barekat, the first COVID-19 vaccine produced by Iranian researchers has been produced by Shifa-Pharmed Company (a subsidiary of Barakat Pharmaceutical Group).Injection of the first human corona vaccine test in Iran iribnews.ir Retrieved 10 March 2020 The human-injection of the first phase of clinical studies of the Iranian corona vaccine on December 29, 2020; The first phase of human testing of the vaccine began with the injection for 56 volunteers.Human test of Iranian corona vaccine begins / Minister of Health: We are the first vaccinator in Asia with 100 years of experience tasnimnews.com Retrieved 29 December 2020Injection of Iranian corona vaccine in a few hours yjc.ir Retrieved 29 December 2020End of the injection of phase one (studies) of "Kovoo-Iran Barakat" vaccine yjc.ir Retrieved 16 February 2021 The second group of the volunteers was also injected with the vaccine.Start of injecting the Iranian corona vaccine to the second group of volunteers mehrnews.comThe injection of "Iranian corona vaccine" to the second group of volunteers began tasnimnews.comStart of injecting the Iranian corona vaccine to the second group of volunteers irinn.ir According to the head of the vaccine production team at the Setad, the results show that this vaccine also neutralizes the British mutated COVID-19 virus.Jalili: The Iranian vaccine neutralizes the British virus yjc.irThe Iranian vaccine neutralizes the British virus mehrnews.comThe Iranian vaccine neutralized the British virus iribnews.irIranian vaccine succeeds in neutralizing "British mutated virus" isna.ir The vaccine has passed the phase(s) 2 and 3 of clinical studies;The latest status of Iranian corona vaccines isna.ir Retrieved 6 April 2021 and currently it has reached its final phase.The Iranian 'COVIran Barakat' vaccine is a reliable one arabic.iranpress.com Retrieved 27 May 2021The beginning of the third stage of the human test of COVIran Barakat IRINN, Retrieved 21 April 2021 The production line of 25 million doses per month of the vaccine was discharged on 26 April 2021.The production line of 25 million doses per month of Iran Koo vaccine was cleared, Retrieved 4 May 2021
With the signing of a memorandum (of understanding) of cooperation between the Barakat Foundation and the Deputy Minister of "Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism", the process of creating 3,000 jobs began with the support of 1,000 handicraft production projects, with priority given to the victims of COVID-19.Supporting Corona-damaged craft activists ana.press, Retrieved 28 March 2021 According to the Deputy Coordinator of the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order: On 27 July 2021, about 5 million doses of Iran Barakat vaccine have been produced in Shafa-farmad factory so far.Inauguration of the first loan fund of the country by the executive headquarters of Farman Imam / Production of 5 million "Barakat" vaccines so far farsnews.ir, Retrieved 27 July 2021
According to IRNA, quoting the spokesman of the National Corona Headquarters and the Deputy Minister of "Ministry of Health and Medical Education": "Barakat Iranian vaccine is (also) produced exclusively for Omicron."A specific blessing vaccine was developed for the Omicron IRNA, Retrieved 6 March 2022
Services in the Twelve-Day War In July 2025, the Barakat Foundation announced its support for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses impacted by Israel's attacks on Iran. (Barakat Foundation provides support to businesses affected by Israeli attacks.) حمایت بنیاد برکت از کسب و کارهای آسیبدیده ناشی از حملات رژیم صهیونیستی
Ehsan-Barakat Charity foundation
Ehsan-Barakat Charity foundation associated to Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order and Barekat Foundation was founded to request of current Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei to provide more quickly help for individual cases (needy people). As Mokhber, the chief of Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order nominated, the activities which be performed by the Charity rely on people's help.