Tehran Times

2026-03-12 17:40
In debut address, Iran's Leader says war may expand further, vows retribution

TEHRAN — In his first public message as Iran's Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei stated that Iran may expand its conflict with the U.S. and Israel, and urged neighboring countries hosting American bases to cease their cooperation with Washington.
- 500 publishers, bookstores declare allegiance to new Leader

By Afshin Majlesi

Death of morality: appalling lie of Trump on Minab tragedy

TEHRAN -- A missile strike that martyred at least 175 people at a girls’ elementary school in the southern city of Minab has become one of the most controversial episodes of the United States’ ongoing war with Tehran, prompting accusations that President Donald Trump misled the public about responsibility for the attack.
By Garsha Vazirian

The growing chorus of American opposition to the war on Iran

TEHRAN —The "shock and awe" Washington pursued in its 2026 war on Iran has been met with a different kind of astonishment: a political earthquake at home, where 59 percent of Americans now reject this war, where the president's own base feels betrayed, and where 46 senators are demanding answers about the massacre of Iranian schoolchildren in Minab.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Epstein scandal and the war on Iran: Coincidence, conspiracy, or political timing?

SOUTH LEBANON—At first glance, there appears to be no direct connection between the publication of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files and the United States’ decision to move toward war with Iran.
By Xavier Villar

Whatever happened to ‘America First’?

How Israel’s war with Iran became America’s war

MADRID - “America First” was meant to be simple. Donald Trump promised restraint abroad and clarity at home. The United States would reduce unnecessary commitments, avoid “endless wars”, and focus on its own national interests. Yet the war with Iran raises an unavoidable question: if America truly comes first, why does US policy appear to follow the strategic priorities of others?
By Maedeh Zaman Fashami

If you repeat a lie often enough: Media, misinformation, and the war on Iran

If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. This famous statement, attributed to Joseph Goebbels, the German Minister of Information, was made more than eighty years ago during WWII. Yet in many ways it still seems to echo through some modern newsrooms.

Politics

Trump and his advisors misjudged Iran’s retaliation to war: NY Times

In a commentary on Tuesday, the New York Times said in the lead-up to the surprise U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, President Donald Trump downplayed the risks to the energy markets as a short-term concern. The Times also said “the search for pathways out of the war has gained urgency since the weekend.”
Banking giants Citi, StanChart and HSBC scale back Mideast operations amid rising tensions

TEHRAN- The geopolitical landscape in the Middle East has entered a volatile new phase, prompting several of the world’s most influential financial institutions to take drastic precautionary measures, Washington Morning reported.
President Pezeshkian: Strikes on U.S. bases in Persian Gulf constitute ‘legitimate defense’

TEHRAN - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that attacks on U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf littoral states fall under the category of “legitimate defense.”

Sports

Iran likely to withdraw from 2026 FIFA World Cup

TEHRAN – FIFA will "monitor developments" in Iran following the outbreak of military action by the United States -- the co-hosts of this summer's men's World Cup -- against Iran, who have qualified for the tournament and is due to play their group games in the U.S.
Iran, South Korea to lock horns at AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026

TEHRAN - The respective head coaches of Korea Republic and Iran expressed confidence in their tournament preparations ahead of their opening AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 clash at the Gold Coast Stadium on Monday, which will represent the first-ever meeting between the pair.
Iranian women carry the hopes of a generation

TEHRAN - As the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup unfolds in Australia from March 1–21, few stories are as inspiring and hard-earned as that of Iran’s women’s national football team. For only the second time in its history, Iran have qualified for this premier continental tournament, a milestone that reflects both sporting progress and social resilience.

Culture

Pop singer Mohsen Chavoshi releases new track, reflecting on national unity

TEHRAN- Acclaimed Iranian pop singer and composer Mohsen Chavoshi has released his latest single, titled "Hasbi Allah" (God is sufficient for me), to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali (AS), the first Imam of the Shia.
Over 3,000 artists pledge allegiance to new Leader

TEHRAN- In a powerful display of solidarity and revolutionary commitment, more than 3,000 Iranian artists have issued a collective statement pledging their allegiance to the newly appointed Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.
500 publishers, bookstores declare allegiance to new Leader

TEHRAN – Some 500 publishing houses and bookstores have declared, in a message, their allegiance to the third leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

Economy

Talk therapy fails: Trump's erratic Strait of Hormuz messaging roils oil markets

TEHRAN- In the wake of the joint US-Israel military action against Iran, Donald Trump’s attempts to manage the ensuing geopolitical and economic fallout appear to be backfiring, creating a fog of war that has sent global oil markets on a tumultuous ride.
Iranian workers, employers urge ILO, global unions to condemn US-Israeli aggression

TEHRAN- Representatives of the Supreme Council of Iranian Workers Association (SCIWA) in a letter addressed to Gilbert Houngbo, the Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and Luc Triangle, the Secretary-General of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), while condemning the recent aggression by the USA and Israel against Iran, called for the support of the ILO and the ITUC for the working community of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of the overt aggression by the USA and Israel. They declared: "Launch an international campaign demanding the cessation of the recent aggression by the USA and Israel."
‘Private sector fully prepared to meet country’s food needs’

TEHRAN- Stressing the full readiness of the private sector to supply the country's needs under the current circumstances, the Secretary General of the Federation of Iranian Food Associations stated: "The production capacity of Iran's food industry exceeds domestic demand, and the necessary raw materials for production over the next few months have already been secured."

Society

Death of morality: appalling lie of Trump on Minab tragedy

TEHRAN -- A missile strike that martyred at least 175 people at a girls’ elementary school in the southern city of Minab has become one of the most controversial episodes of the United States’ ongoing war with Tehran, prompting accusations that President Donald Trump misled the public about responsibility for the attack.
Tehran’s Vanak neighborhood, where hospitals not safe under airstrikes

TEHRAN – U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting the Vanak neighborhood of Tehran have been ongoing since February 28th, bringing problems to several nearby hospitals and aid facilities, including Tehran’s only burn center.
Damage to Iranian petroleum facilities risks contaminating food, water and air: WHO

TEHRAN – The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that damage to Iranian petroleum facilities risks contaminating food, water and air.

Tourism

Airstrikes damage 17th-century mosque in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Recent airstrikes on the Iranian city of Isfahan have damaged the historic Imam Mosque, also known as Masjed Jameh Abbasi, according to a provincial heritage official.
Science minister writes to UNESCO chief denouncing humanitarian law violations in attacks

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology has urged UNESCO to strongly condemn recent attacks by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory, citing violations of international humanitarian law and UNESCO-protected sites.
Qazvin’s mirror and glass production unit damaged by U.S.-Israeli attacks

TEHRAN- Following U.S.-Israeli attacks, a mirror and glass production unit faced heavy damages in Qazvin province, said a cultural heritage official.

International

Trump's Iran war gamble is bleeding America into strategic humiliation

TEHRAN — The arithmetic of defeat is sometimes written in blood, sometimes in treasure, and sometimes in the quiet dismantling of air defense systems that cost a billion dollars to build.
Hebrew media: One-third of Israelis under fire with nowhere to escape

TEHRAN – Israeli media have reported that roughly 3.2 million Israelis are living without adequate protection from missiles and drones, raising concerns about settler safety across areas controlled by the occupation regime.
Pro-Iran march is banned in London

TEHRAN - British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Tuesday night caved in to demands to ban a pro-Iranian rally in London this weekend, Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.

How Israel’s war with Iran became America’s war