Tehran Times

2025-09-17 21:22
By Staff Writer

The philosophy behind Iran's mass prison pardons

Ayatollah Khamenei pardoned or reduced sentences for over 60,000 inmates last week

TEHRAN – Mahmoud was sentenced to five years in prison after being arrested with drugs in 2023. His offense is considered small-scale drug possession in Iran, as he used the drugs himself and sold them to a small number of acquaintances after obtaining them from a large distributor.
- Leader pardons, commutes sentences of over 2,000 prisoners
- 22,700 inmates freed under Leader’s mass pardon

By Sahar Dadjoo

Exclusive: Summits without action are ‘a waste of time,’ says political commentator

Munir Daair says Arabs and Turkey must join Iran in security pact or face continued Israeli attacks

TEHRAN- In the aftermath of Israel’s recent airstrike on Doha, which targeted Hamas leaders under the shadow of U.S. military presence, questions are rising over Washington’s role in regional affairs. Analysts say the attack exposes a repeated pattern of deception, echoing previous strikes on Iran and Yemen, and highlights the danger posed by American bases in the Persian Gulf.
By Professor Hossein Askari

Arab rulers: When did you lose your dignity?

It’s high time to stand up for your people and protect their land!

PORTLAND - Persian Gulf Arabs, what are your unelected rulers scared of? They have put all their eggs in the US basket and are ineptly trying to protect their ill-gotten wealth and to cling onto power. Instead of subservience to neo-colonialists such as the US, they should stand tall and work only to benefit you and your future generations.
By staff writer

Global backlash grows over Israel’s ground incursion in Gaza City

TEHRAN – Israel is pressing forward with its full-scale ground invasion of Gaza City following a period of intense bombardment, sparking widespread international backlash.
By Sedigheh Hosseini

From rice terraces to waterfalls, Bali tour highlights nature and culture

BALI (Indonesia) - A recently-held media familiarization tour of Bali, attended by a number of Iranian journalists and social media influencers, was a journey to discover the authentic face of the country’s culture and nature.
By Wesam Bahrani

Yemeni missile forces Netanyahu's plane to make ‘emergency landing’

TEHRAN – Yemen announces new operations against the Israeli occupation regime in response to the Gaza genocide and the regime’s ongoing aggression against the country.

Politics

Iran in no rush to resume relations with Syria: Foreign Ministry

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Wednesday that Iran is in no rush to resume relations with Syria, emphasizing that any restoration of ties will depend on conditions that genuinely serve the interests of the Syrian nation.
Iranian FM holds talks with European counterparts on nuclear issue, sanctions relief

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a joint telephone conversation on Wednesday with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, focusing on the Iranian nuclear program and the lifting of unjust international sanctions.
Mossad operative executed after spying on Iran

TEHRAN – Iran has executed Babak Shahbazi, convicted of collaborating with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency and transmitting sensitive information on Iran’s high-security sites, the Judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported Wednesday.

Sports

Persepolis, Chadormalou share spoils at 2025/26 PGPL

TEHRAN – Persepolis were held to a goalless draw by Chadormalou at the Takhti Stadium on Matchweek 4 of the 2025/26 Iran Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL) on Friday.
Greco-Roman wrestler Ahmadi wins silver at 2025 World Championships

TEHRAN – Payam Ahmadi of Iran lost to Georgian Greco-Roman wrestler Vakhtang Lolua 7-5 in the final bout of 55kg of the 2025 World Wrestling Championships on Friday.
Iran fail to reach FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup Division A

TEHRAN – Iran narrowly lost to India 67-66 in the final match of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025 Division B on Friday at the Karisma Arena in Seremban, Malaysia.

Culture

Iran submits “Cause of Death: Unknown” to 2026 Oscars in best international feature film category

TEHRAN – The psychological mystery thriller “Cause of Death: Unknown” directed by Ali Zarnegar has been officially selected as Iran’s submission to the 2026 Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.
Novel on Gaza brings fictional heroes into real struggle

TEHRAN-The superhero of this story, Z, does not soar over imaginary skylines nor strike with an iron fist; his mission is different: to tear down the barricades of fake news and pull the truth from beneath the rubble of lies that Zionists pump daily into the media about Gaza. In “The Last Superhero: The Fight for Palestine”, Z searches for the roots of Zionism and the project of Israel in the twentieth century—a project that, through its propaganda machine, labels every Palestinian as “Hamas” in order to justify the killing of women and children.
Iran-Turkey joint film “Intoxicated by Love” to be released in Turkey, Europe in October

TEHRAN – The Iran-Turkey joint film “Intoxicated by Love” directed by Iranian director Hassan Fat’hi will be released in Turkey and Europe in October.

Economy

Iran, Russia discuss boosting economic co-op ahead of 19th joint committee meeting

Tehran – Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad on Wednesday met Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilyov and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller in Tehran to review economic cooperation and preparations for the next meeting of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Committee, the Oil Ministry’s news agency Shana reported.
Rail freight through Iranian ports rises 14% in 5 months on year

Tehran – Iran moved about 3.6 million tons of cargo through its ports by rail in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-August 22), up 14 percent from the same period last year, the head of commercial affairs at Iran Railways said.
Iran, Azerbaijan to hold joint economic committee meeting next week

Tehran – The head of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Chamber of Commerce said the two countries will hold a meeting of their joint economic commitee in Tehran next week, with Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev attending, Tasnim news agency reported.

Society

Iran, Cuba follow up on joint vaccine production

TEHRAN – Ali Jafarian, the senior advisor to the health minister, and Tania Margarita Cruz Hernandez, Cuba’s Acting Minister of Public Health, have discussed ways to expand medical and scientific ties between the two countries, taking further actions on boosting cooperation in vaccine production and the biotechnology sector.
World Space Week to be marked

TEHRAN – The World Space Week - the largest annual space event in the world - will be observed from October 4 to 10.
Iran explores ways to foster co-op with Universal Post Union, APPU

TEHRAN – The CEO of the National Post Company of Iran, Mohammad Ahmadi, in separate meetings with the 28th Universal Post Congress Chair, Tariq Ahmed Al Wahedi, and the secretary general of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union of India, Vinaya Prakash Singh, has explored avenues for enhancing collaborations.

Tourism

Isfahan launches first film tourism map to highlight city’s movie locations

ISFAHAN – Isfahan unveiled its first tourism map of film shooting locations on Wednesday, offering visitors an interactive way to explore the city’s cultural and cinematic heritage.
60,000 Chinese tourists visit Iran annually: ambassador

TEHRAN--Emphasizing the deepening of scientific and cultural relations between Iran and China, the Chinese ambassador to Iran stated that 60,000 Chinese tourists visit Iran annually.
Israeli airstrikes damage Yemen’s National Museum, Houthi authorities say

TEHRAN – Israeli airstrikes have damaged Yemen’s National Museum in the capital Sanaa, shattering windows and doors and raising concerns over the safety of its collection, Houthi officials and local archaeologists said.

International

Arab rulers: When did you lose your dignity?

PORTLAND - Persian Gulf Arabs, what are your unelected rulers scared of? They have put all their eggs in the US basket and are ineptly trying to protect their ill-gotten wealth and to cling onto power. Instead of subservience to neo-colonialists such as the US, they should stand tall and work only to benefit you and your future generations.
Global backlash grows over Israel’s ground incursion in Gaza City

TEHRAN – Israel is pressing forward with its full-scale ground invasion of Gaza City following a period of intense bombardment, sparking widespread international backlash.
Yemeni missile forces Netanyahu's plane to make ‘emergency landing’

TEHRAN – Yemen announces new operations against the Israeli occupation regime in response to the Gaza genocide and the regime’s ongoing aggression against the country.