Ghotbi, Nader2019-09-252019-09-252015-08-1320131173-2571http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/225074"Reproductive medicine services have been provided at a fairly advanced stage in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and there are currently more than 75 infertility clinics which provide some of the latest technology in the field. From the ethical and religious point of view, Iran has provided a very flexible environment that is quite unique in the Middle East as well as the Muslim nations in general. This flexibility is mainly related to the role of ijtihad in Shi’a Islam where new rulings can be extracted by Shi’a jurists to facilitate the use of technologies that may be banned by traditional Islamic rulings. The possibility of temporary marriage in Shi’a has also helped legitimize the third party donation of gametes for treatment of infertility. The Supreme Leader in Iran has issued a series of fatwas that played a big role in legitimization of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and the use of third party donated gametes for infertile couples in Iran."engWith permission of the license/copyright holderAssisted reproductive technologies (ART)In vitro fertilization (IVF)IranMedical ethicsReproductive medicineShi’a IslamCultural ethicsCultural/intercultural ethicsBioethicsMedical ethicsArticle