Tehran Times

2025-07-30 20:42
By Sheida Sabzehvari

“The West’s ‘democratic alternative’ tortured my sister to madness”

A look at the life of one of MEK’s countless victims, and the crimes the West is brushing off

TEHRAN – Masoumeh Chaheh was 24 when she showed up at her family’s door in southern Tehran – bruised, scratched, and dishevelled. She couldn’t form coherent sentences about where she had been the past few years. "We were all shocked. We kept asking her what had happened, but she couldn’t explain anything. She just screamed, cried, and zoned out," said Leila, Masoumeh’s younger sister, one of the first to find her in that state. "We didn’t know what to do. She kept running away, and eventually, we lost contact with her again."
- ‘How the MEK abducted my son – and Albania looked away’
- Women in the MEK: Trapped, tortured, and silenced

‘Strategic priority’, Iran says committed to broadening ties with Tajikistan

FM Araghchi received warmly by high-ranking officials in Dushanbe

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has highlighted Tehran’s commitment to expanding relations with Dushanbe, emphasizing that Iran views cooperation with Tajikistan as a strategic priority.
‘We defended our land with resolve:’ Qalibaf takes Iran’s case to Geneva forum

TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf delivered a searing critique of Western-backed Israeli aggression and the regime’s Gaza genocide at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP), while simultaneously showcasing Iran’s diplomatic resilience through strategic bilateral engagements.
By Bahram Moradi

US boycott of UN meeting on Palestinian statehood not unexpected

TEHRAN - While dozens of countries held a three-day conference at the United Nations in New York to urge the world to work towards a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians within the 1967 borders, the United States and Israel boycotted the event.
By staff writer

EU lawmakers call for sanctions as Gaza starvation deepens: Will Europe follow through?

TEHRAN- The continuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza has sparked a considerable political response from European Union (EU) legislators; however, the overall EU and Western response is still disjointed, late, and terribly weak.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Lebanese cabinet to convene next week on arms monopoly

BEIRUT— The Lebanese cabinet is scheduled to convene next Tuesday in response to US envoy Thomas Barrack’s recent threat on X that says: “As long as Hezbollah retains its weapons, words will not suffice. The government and Hezbollah must fully engage and act now.”

Politics

Pezeshkian, Maduro vow strategic deepening as allies mark 75 years of solidarity

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro solidified their nations’ strategic alliance in a late Tuesday phone call, vowing to deepen cooperation across all sectors while condemning the recent Israeli campaign of aggression on Iranian sovereignty.
Legal action against US-Israeli aggression underway: Iran deputy FM

TEHRAN — A senior Iranian official has reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s commitment to legally pursue the recent US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, calling them clear violations of international law and human rights.
‘Delusional’ and ‘ridiculous’: Iran rejects claim of kidnapping plot against Belgian politician

TEHRAN – Iran's mission to the EU in Brussels has labeled as "delusional" the allegations made by a Belgian parliamentarian, Darya Safai, concerning an alleged Iranian plot to abduct her through Turkey.

Sports

Iran into 2025 FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship quarterfinals

TEHRAN – Iran defeated Belgium 3-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20) on Wednesday to book their place in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship quarterfinals.
We want 2025 World Games podium: Mahdiyeh Shabani

TEHRAN – Mahdiyeh Shabani, a player of Iran’s women’s national canoe polo team, expressed hope that they can secure one of the top three positions at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
Iranian women to mark their pioneering spirit in AFC Women’s Asian Cup

TEHRAN - The participation of Iran’s national women’s football team in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup once again underscored the prominent role and elevated status of women in contemporary Iranian society on the global stage.

Culture

Iranian documentary “Cutting Through Rocks” wins Gryphon Award at Giffoni Film Festival

TEHRAN – The Iranian documentary “Cutting Through Rocks” by Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki won an award at the 55th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival (GFF), which ran from July 17 to 26 in Salerno, Italy.
Conference emphasizes Persian’s role in uniting Iran, preserving cultural heritage

TEHRAN- The seventh National Conference on "Languages and Dialects of Iran" brought together scholars and cultural figures at the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia in Tehran on Tuesday to underscore the vital role of the Persian language in fostering unity and solidarity among Iranians.
Marivan to host Intl. Street Theater Festival in October

TEHRAN- The 18th edition of Marivan International Street Theater Festival is scheduled to be held in October.

Economy

IMF doubles Iran's 2025 growth forecast despite 12-day war with Israel

TEHRAN - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has doubled its forecast for Iran's economic growth in 2025 to 0.6 percent, up from 0.3 percent in its previous report, despite the economic and geopolitical fallout from a 12-day war between Iran and Israel earlier this year.
Iran’s small-scale power plant capacity surpasses 1,550 MW amid push for decentralized energy

TEHRAN - The combined generation capacity of Iran’s small-scale power plants has exceeded 1,550 megawatts this year, according to Zahra Esmaeilzadeh, head of the distributed generation and renewables project at Tavanir, the state-run electricity company.
Chinese Liberation Army’s 98th anniversary celebrated in Tehran

TEHRAN - The Chinese embassy in Iran celebrated the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, as well as the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, at the place of the embassy in Tehran on Tuesday night.

Society

Iranian students bag 4 medals at IEO 2025

TEHRAN – Iran won two silver medals and two bronze medals at the Eighth International Economics Olympiad (IEO) 2025, which was held from July 20 to 29, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Iran determined to eradicate hepatitis C by March 2027

TEHRAN –The health ministry has set goals to eliminate hepatitis C in the country by the Iranian year 1405 (March 2026-March 2027) through precise planning and broad participation of different sectors, the deputy health minister Alireza Raeisi has said.
Over 15 cities in Iran become age-friendly

TEHRAN –So far, 16 cities in the country have taken necessary measures to develop age-friendly communities, the head of the Welfare Organization has said.

Tourism

Zanjan Day commemorated

TEHRAN--The birth anniversary of Sheikh Shahabeddin Sohrevardi, Iranian philosopher and founder of the Iranian school of Illuminationism, has been named as Zanjan Day (July 30) in the Iranian calendar. It is considered day of cultural and scientific activities in gnosis and philosophy fields.
Fourth burial inscription identified in Naqsh-e Rostam

TEHRAN—Abolhassan Atabaki, archaeologist and researcher, gave news of discovery of the fourth burial inscription in the area of Naqsh-e Rostam in Marvdasht, Fars province, saying that the inscription is related to an ossuary, a container or repository for the bones of the dead, from the late Sassanid era and has very beautiful decorations.
Kerman, a museum illustrating various periods of history

TEHRAN--Being home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, eye-catching gardens, and ancient monuments, Kerman city can be considered as a perfect museum illustrating various periods in Iranian history.

International

US boycott of UN meeting on Palestinian statehood not unexpected

TEHRAN - While dozens of countries held a three-day conference at the United Nations in New York to urge the world to work towards a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians within the 1967 borders, the United States and Israel boycotted the event.
EU lawmakers call for sanctions as Gaza starvation deepens: Will Europe follow through?

TEHRAN- The continuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza has sparked a considerable political response from European Union (EU) legislators; however, the overall EU and Western response is still disjointed, late, and terribly weak.
Lebanese cabinet to convene next week on arms monopoly

BEIRUT— The Lebanese cabinet is scheduled to convene next Tuesday in response to US envoy Thomas Barrack’s recent threat on X that says: “As long as Hezbollah retains its weapons, words will not suffice. The government and Hezbollah must fully engage and act now.”

A look at the life of one of MEK’s countless victims, and the crimes the West is brushing off

FM Araghchi received warmly by high-ranking officials in Dushanbe