Azerbaijan, Baku, may 28 / Trend /
At least 21,000 Iranians have been infected with the HIV virus, the Fars news agency quoted Hasan Musevi, the head of the State Family, Women and Children Public Affairs Committee.
According to the official, infection through sexual intercourse accounted for 13.5 percent.
The number of divorces has increased 17 percent compared to previous years, Musevi said.
"Last year, marriages grew by only one percent, while divorces grew by 17 percent," Musevi said.
He added that 20 percent of the individuals who appeal the committee met their spouses through the Internet or in public places.
Ninety percent of children in Iran who have been convicted of committing crimes come from families where the parents have divorced, Musevi said.
Musevi said the country's cultural and religious potential could be used to solved social problems.
According to the statistics for 2009, more than 18,000 people are infected with HIV in Iran. According to unofficial statistics, 70,000-100,000 people are infected with the virus.