Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s third leader

The Assembly of Experts on March 9 announced the election of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the new Leader of the Islamic Republic, following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

People attend Nowruz ceremony at Enqelab Square

On Friday evening, people from all walks of life gathered at Enqelab Square, central Tehran, to celebrate Nowruz, which is the start of spring and the new Persian year.

Photo: Ali Modir Shanechi

Imam Reza shrine hosts pilgrims on New Year

Pilgrims attend special prayer ceremonies at Imam Reza holy shrine in the city of Mashhad on Friday evening concurrent with the announcement of the New Year (Nowruz).

Photo: Ali Hadadi Asl

Eid al-Fitr prayers held at Tehran’s Mosalla

People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at Tehran’s Mosalla on Saturday morning, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. This year’s gathering carried a different atmosphere, as participants observed the occasion in the absence of their martyred leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Photo: Samira Sadrnejad

Mass funeral in Tehran honors commanders and civilians martyred at start of war

TEHRAN - Around one million mourners gathered in central Tehran on Wednesday, according to local estimates, for the funeral procession of senior Iranian military commanders and civilians killed by the United States and Israel on the first day of the ongoing war.

Photo: Adil Abass

Kashmiris condemns US-Israeli aggression against Iran

Kashmiri women staged a protest in Magam, Kashmir, condemning the attacks by the US-Israel on Iran.

Photo: Adil Abass

Quran recitation ceremony in kashmir

A Quran recitation ceremony was solemnly held at Maktab Ameer al-Momineen (AS) in Srinagar, Kashmir. During the holy month of Ramadan, Quran recitations are held in mosques and Hussainya’s across the Kashmir Valley prior Iftar.

Photo: Mahnaz Abdi, Soheil Saadatmandi

Uruguay presents football shirts to Iran in gesture of sporting friendship

TEHRAN – The Embassy of Uruguay in Tehran hosted a ceremony on Tuesday (February 17), presenting shirts from the Uruguayan national team and two major clubs—Nacional and Peñarol—to Iranian football officials. The event welcomed representatives from Iran's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Sports, and Culture, alongside the Football Federation and foreign ambassadors. Ambassador Beraldo Roque Nicola emphasized football's power to unite nations, particularly in challenging times.

Photo: Payam Sani

Russia committed to bolstering trade, energy ties with Iran’

TEHRAN- In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times on Tuesday (February 17), Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov underscored Moscow’s dedication to expanding trade and energy cooperation with Iran. The remarks came before the conclusion of the 19th meeting of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Committee, which was hosted by Tehran.

Exclusive photos

Iran drills for ‘smart control’ of Hormuz Strait

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy launched the first phase of a large-scale live-fire drill across Iran’s islands in the Persian Gulf on February 16, 2026. It mobilized rapid-response battalions and deployed new missile systems to Iran’s strategic islands to rehearse the “smart control” of the Strait of Hormuz.

Photo: Fatemeh Mirahmadi

Bahman 22 rallies in photos

Millions of Iranians from all strata of society gathered on Bahman 22 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution. The nationwide celebrations mark the historic end of the monarchy and the birth of the Islamic Republic.

Photo: Adil Abbas

Kashmiris march in support of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (AS) and in support of Iran and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, a march was held in the Budgam area of Kashmir.

Photo: Saeed Reza Razavi

Nationwide rallies supporting the gov., denouncing riots, terror attacks

TEHRAN – On January 12, 2026, Iranians from all walks of life demonstrated across the country, with tens of thousands gathering in Tehran’s iconic Enghelab Square, showing their support for the Islamic Republic and expressing their condemnation of the recent foreign-instigated riots and terrorist attacks which led to the martyrdom of over 100 security forces and civilians.

Photo: Mohsen Rezaei

Tehran holds cycling race to promote clean transportation

A cycling race was held on Friday in District 17 of Tehran to encourage public sports, increase social vitality, and promote the culture of clean transportation. The Municipality organized the event to mark Father’s Day, the birthday of Imam Ali (AS), which falls on January 3, 2026.

Life under displacement in Gaza: A firsthand visual testimony from Rafah and Deir al-Balah

This photo report is compiled by Ezzedine Shallah, a Palestinian filmmaker and researcher displaced by Israel’s war on Gaza. The images document two stages of forced displacement: his bombed home in Rafah (2024) and daily life inside a tent in Deir al-Balah (2025). Taken from within the Gaza Strip, these photographs bear witness to the destruction of civilian homes, the erosion of family life, and the ongoing reality of survival under bombardment, hunger, and uncertainty.

Photo: Bahman Vakhshour

Painting on the news: Iranian artist turns newspapers into art

TEHRAN- Iranian painter Behdad Najafi is showcasing his latest works in an exhibition titled "Palimento" at Tehran's Nian Gallery. Using newspapers as canvas, he reworks them through layered paint to reflect on media, memory, and the fading presence of newspapers in contemporary life.

Photo: Samira Sadrnejad

Tehran ceremony honors scientific achievers of Islamic Iran

TEHRAN – A prestigious ceremony titled "Hello to the Future" was held on Wednesday evening at the Milad Tower Conference Hall in Tehran, celebrating the outstanding contributions of scientific achievers in Islamic Iran. The event gathered prominent figures from various fields of science and technology, as well as family members of esteemed military commanders martyred during Israel’s June war against Iran.

Photo: Ali Haddadi Asl

Tehran honors mothers of martyrs in solemn ceremony

TEHRAN – A ceremony was held on Tuesday afternoon in Tehran to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the families of fallen Iranian soldiers. The event specifically honored the mother of martyrs Hassan and Mohammad Baqeri, alongside a group of mothers who lost their children during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, known in Iran as the "Sacred Defense."

Iran 2nd at 2025 AYPG

TEHRAN – Iran finished second at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) in Dubai. A 194-member Iranian contingent collected a total of 262 medals, including 76 gold, 96 silver, and 88 bronze, at the Games held in Dubai, the UAE, from Dec. 10 to 13. Iran’s para swimmers won 104 medals, while para athletes secured 82 medals across various disciplines.

Photo: Bahman Vakhshour

Iran National Orchestra performs at Vahdat Hall

TEHRAN- Iran National Orchestra, conducted by Homayoun Rahimian, presented its latest concert titled “Now It Has Reached Our Ears…” on Sunday and Monday at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. Prominent Iranian vocalist Vahid Taj accompanied the orchestra during the concerts.

"Terror Online" International Contest seeks to combat censorship of artworks on social media

The press conference for the first International Cartoon and Poster Contest "Terror Online" was held on Saturday, December 6, with the presence of Masoud Shojai Tabatabai, the event’s secretary, and Masoud Nejabatí, the head of the jury, in Tehran. The main goal of the event is to combat the censorship of artworks and present authentic visual narratives of the resistance culture by inviting both Iranian and international artists.

Palestinians celebrate as young couples attend mass wedding

A number of young Palestinians gathered in the war-torn city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza to solidify the love they found amid the ruins. Speaking to reporters, they stated their determination to start a new life despite mass displacement and the devastating living conditions caused by Israeli violence that began in 2023.

Photo: Fatemeh Mirahmadi

Ayatollah Khamenei’s vision of freedom and humanity discussed in intl. conference

The International Conference on Nation's Rights and the Legitimate Freedoms in the Intellectual Framework of Ayatollah Khamenei (Leader of the Islamic Revolution) convened Wednesday at the IRIB International Conference Center in Tehran. The event saw the attendance of Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside several members of the Guardian Council, including Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei, who heads the Research Institute of the Guardian Council. Foreign scholars and intellectuals were also in attendance.

Photo: Foad Ashtari

Tehran inaugurates 'Holy Virgin Mary' metro station

Tehran Municipality inaugurated the new metro station, Maryam-e Moqaddas (Holy Virgin Mary), located near the Saint Sarkis Armenian Cathedral on Saturday. The station was designed with Christian-themed art and architecture to showcase religious coexistence in the country. Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and religious leaders of Iranian Christians attended the inauguration ceremony.

Photo: Bahman Vakhshour

Young Scholars Club materializes Iran’s scientific diplomacy, superiority

In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times, Reza Hosseini, the head of the Young Scholars Club, elaborated on achievements over the past years. He said that young and talented Iranian students are a source of honor for the country, materializing the goals of scientific diplomacy and superiority. The Young Scholars Club prepares students for international Olympiads in mathematics, physics, literature, biology, computer sciences, chemistry, astronomy, and astrophysics.

Photo: Foad Ashtari

Academics analyze social dimensions of Resistance in Tehran conference 

TEHRAN – At a conference titled "Resistance as a Social Phenomenon" held at the University of Tehran on November 19, 2025, Iranian sociologists presented data indicating robust public support for the concept of Resistance and analyzed its evolving role in domestic and international spheres.

Photo: Fatemeh Mirahmadi

At Tehran Times meeting, Indonesian envoy talks future of Iran-Indonesia relations

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat, visited the Tehran Times office on November 18, 2025. After meeting with the publication's leadership, he gave an interview discussing the current state and future prospects of Iran-Indonesia relations, as well as Jakarta’s vision of an ideal regional and global order.

Photo: Bahman Vakhshour

Mexican Embassy in Tehran celebrates Day of the Dead with visual arts exhibition by Iranian artists

TEHRAN – The Mexican Embassy in Tehran held a visual arts exhibition from November 3 to 11 to celebrate the tradition of the Day of the Dead. Held in Collaboration with the Tehran Visual Arts Association, the exhibition showcased 40 works of art across various fields, including painting, illustration, graphic design, and sculpture, all created by Iranian artists on the subject of the Day of the Dead, one of Mexico’s most beloved traditions, filled with color, flowers, scents, and memories.

Photo: Ali Haddadi Asl

Tehran Times hosts Venezuelan envoy to expand bilateral cooperation

José Rafael Silva Aponte, the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Iran, paid a visit to the Tehran Times and Mehr News Agency in Tehran on Tuesday. The delegation engaged in constructive discussions with Mehr Media Group CEO Dr. Mohammad-Mahdi Rahmati and Tehran Times Editor-in-Chief Mr. Mohammad Sarfi, with both sides emphasizing the expansion of media and journalistic cooperation between the two countries.

Gaza launched 1st International Festival for Women’s Cinema in October 2025

In a powerful act of cultural defiance and with the support of the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, Gaza has inaugurated its first International Festival for Women’s Cinema, bringing together voices of female filmmakers from across the world despite the ongoing siege and devastation.