Tehran Times

2026-06-29 21:19
By Hossein Amiri

Eliminated on Paper. Victorious in Character.

How did the US lay landmines for Iran's football team inside the 2026 World Cup?

TEHRAN – The scoreboard says Iran's journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in the group stage. History will record three draws against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt before Team Melli narrowly missed a place in the knockout rounds. Yet numbers alone cannot tell the story of Iran's campaign in North America.
- Iran's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak
- Taj: Iran fought until the very end

Pezeshkian meets Grand Ayatollahs in Qom

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian traveled to the holy city of Qom for a series of meetings with the leading Shiite clerics, during which he discussed the government's domestic agenda, regional developments, and the latest diplomatic achievements, including the planned release of $6 billion of Iran's frozen assets held in Qatar.
Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz committee talks as sovereignty push intensifies

TEHRAN - Iran and Oman convened for the inaugural session of their newly formed joint committee on the Strait of Hormuz, with talks centering on the strategic waterway’s long-term administration.
Iran calls for 'Indigenous Persian Gulf Security Framework' during Iraq visit

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed Tehran’s readiness to engage in dialogue with the Persian Gulf littoral states to establish a collective regional security mechanism, stressing that any future security architecture should be inclusive, indigenous, and free from the involvement of extra-regional military powers.
By Garsha Vazirian

Israel maliciously turns Armenian grief into diplomatic grenade masking Gaza atrocities

TEHRAN — On June 28, the Israeli cabinet executed a maneuver it had fiercely resisted for decades. In a unanimous vote, ministers approved Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s proposal to formally recognize the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians during World War I as a “genocide.”
By Wesam Bahrani

More Lebanese figures reject the “framework agreement”

TEHRAN – Opposition to the Lebanese government’s “framework agreement” with the Zionist regime continues to grow, as the country’s political parties and public figures condemn it for legitimizing occupation and lacking legal or national legitimacy.

Politics

Tehran demands US adherence to MoU before any technical discussions begin

TEHRAN - Iran's deputy foreign minister on Monday dismissed reports that technical working groups with Washington would convene this week in Doha, accusing the United States of violating key articles of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding during two days of skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz—violations that were met with a decisive Iranian response.
Iran honors ‘pioneer of public diplomacy’ assassinated in US-Israeli strike

TEHRAN – Iran’s political and cultural elite gathered Sunday to unveil a commemorative volume honoring Martyr Dr. Seyed Kamal Kharrazi, the former foreign minister assassinated on April 9 in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on his Tehran residence.
Iran pledges to pursue accountability for Sardasht chemical attack

TEHRAN– Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing legal accountability for those responsible for the 1987 chemical bombardment of the northwestern city of Sardasht, with senior officials describing the attack as one of the gravest war crimes of the Iran-Iraq War and a lasting reminder of 'international double standards' over the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Sports

Iran beat Syria at FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian qualifier

TEHRAN - Iran opened the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers' third window at the Prince Hamza Hall in Jordan with 72-68 win over Syria on Monday.
Taj: Iran fought until the very end

TEHRAN - Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj praised the national team for their determination and commitment following the conclusion of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, saying the players and staff fought until the final whistle in pursuit of making the nation proud.
Piazza: Iran's players have improved, but I'm still not satisfied

TEHRAN - Iran men's national volleyball team head coach Roberto Piazza said his players have made noticeable progress but stressed that the team are still far from his ideal level following a 3-1 victory over Cuba in the final match of Week 2 of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

Culture

“Tent of Art” Ashura gathering opens in Tehran

TEHRAN- The second edition of the "Kheimeh Honar" ("Tent of Art") Ashura gathering commenced at the City Theater complex in Tehran on Sunday.
Tahereh Mafi’s bestselling novel “Shatter Me” to be adapted into film by Warner Bros.

TEHRAN – Iranian-American author Tahereh Mafi has revealed that Warner Bros. has secured the film rights to her bestselling young-adult dystopian “Shatter Me” series, marking a major milestone as the franchise approaches its 15th anniversary.
20th Cinema Verite unveils call for entries

TEHRAN- The Documentary & Experimental Film Center (DEFC) has officially unveiled the call for entries for the 20th edition of Iran International Documentary Film Festival “Cinema Verite”.

Economy

NIDC completes drilling of 23 oil, gas wells in Q1

TEHRAN- The CEO of the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) said: 23 oil and gas wells were drilled and completed in the first three months of this Iranian calendar year (March 21-June 20), through the efforts of the drilling crews and the utilization of the company's drilling fleet, in the country's onshore and offshore oil-rich areas.
Kazakh investment at Shahid Rajaei Port to triple bilateral trade, guarantee 1.5m-ton-transit

TEHRAN- The Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization said that with the implementation of the Kazakhstan investment agreement at Shahid Rajaei Port, the volume of goods traded between the two countries will increase threefold, and the annual transit of 1.5 million tons of goods will be guaranteed.
Africa can supply part of Iran's import needs

TEHRAN- The head of the Iran-East Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce announced plans to develop trade and investment relations with African countries and said: The vast capacities of this continent can meet part of Iran's import needs, and in return, Iran will also export the industrial goods and products required by these countries.

Society

Tehran, Ankara discuss bolstering scientific ties

TEHRAN – Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Hossein Simaei-Sarraf, and Turkish Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, have explored ways to enhance scientific, research, and educational cooperation.
Iranian, Russian universities ink MOU

TEHRAN – Shahid Beheshti University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia to deepen cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) agreements.
Iran puts forward proposals to expand SCO women’s co-op

TEHRAN – Narjes Abolqasemi, an official with the Vice-Presidency for Women and Family Affairs, has delivered a speech at the Women’s Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), offering proposals to enhance collaborations among women of SCO member states.

Tourism

Martyred leader's funeral ceremonies to be nominated for national heritage status

TEHRAN – Iran's minister of cultural heritage said on Monday that the government plans to seek national heritage registration for the planned funeral ceremonies of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mehr news agency reported.
Isfahan unveils tourism roadmap, plans heritage restoration after recent damage

TEHRAN – Isfahan province has prepared a new tourism development roadmap, launched plans to revive historical corridors and begun restoring heritage sites damaged during recent US-Israeli airstrikes, Governor-general Mehdi Jamalinejad said on Monday.
Few Iranian heritage sites located in high-risk land subsidence zones, official says

TEHRAN – Only a limited number of Iran’s historical monuments are located in areas facing a high risk of land subsidence, and concerns about damage to heritage sites are often overstated due to confusion with ordinary structural settlement and moisture-related deterioration, a senior cultural heritage official said.

International

Israel maliciously turns Armenian grief into diplomatic grenade masking Gaza atrocities

TEHRAN — On June 28, the Israeli cabinet executed a maneuver it had fiercely resisted for decades. In a unanimous vote, ministers approved Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s proposal to formally recognize the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians during World War I as a “genocide.”
How the Lebanese government advances Israel’s interests!

TEHRAN – The signing of the Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Iran and the U.S. dealt a great blow to the Israeli regime’s expectations from the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations.
More Lebanese figures reject the “framework agreement”

TEHRAN – Opposition to the Lebanese government’s “framework agreement” with the Zionist regime continues to grow, as the country’s political parties and public figures condemn it for legitimizing occupation and lacking legal or national legitimacy.

How did the US lay landmines for Iran's football team inside the 2026 World Cup?