Tehran Times

2026-01-07 22:10
By Faramarz Kouhpayeh

Mossad hunting for blood in Iran's protests

Israel hopes a sensational story will help expand riots and enable US attack

TEHRAN – While Iranian authorities engage in dialogue with business owners and merchants protesting currency volatility—and prepare to introduce major reforms to ease economic hardships resulting from years of Western sanctions—Western media outlets have once again joined forces with their respective governments and their colonial project, Israel, to exploit the situation.
- U.S. Govt's NED confesses involvement in Iran's 2022 unrest
- The Israeli version of woman, life, freedom

By Sondoss Al Asaad

Lebanon at the edge of an imposed escalation?

BEIRUT—Amid escalating Israeli enemy rhetoric about widening the circle of confrontation and Washington’s clear shift toward imposing faits accomplis under the logic of “the law of the jungle,” Lebanon finds itself navigating an exceptionally sensitive political and security moment.
By Shahrokh Saei

Greenland today, Europe tomorrow: Mapping the rise of Trumpland

TEHRAN – President Donald Trump’s imperial ambitions show no sign of slowing, fueled by hubris and the momentum of America’s deadly military strikes in Venezuela — a campaign that culminated in the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump has now declared that Venezuela “will be turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil — valued at roughly $2.8 billion — to the United States.
By Parviz Jamshidi

Should Europe tremble as Trump keeps threatening to grab Greenland?

TEHRAN - Donald Trump is causing fear among Europeans by repeatedly threatening that the U.S. is seeking to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of fellow NATO member Denmark, by force if necessary.
By Soheila Zarfam

What would an 'unconfined' Iranian response look like?

Defence Council’s statement suggests Iran wants to make any new US-Israeli aggression their last

TEHRAN – For several years, Iranian political and military leaders have been known for practicing "strategic patience"—a policy of avoiding impulsive responses and refusing to be the party that escalates tensions. This has largely remained Tehran’s approach over the last two years too, even as Israel has set the region ablaze, crossing new red lines daily in an attempt to drag Iran and its allies into a full-scale war with the United States.
By Mona Hojat Ansari

Baghaei tells Tehran Times ‘relations with Lebanon matter greatly’ ahead of FM’s visit

Spox says new Lebanese and Iranian ambassadors will begin missions soon

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei recently visited the Tehran Times, where he met with the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief and CEO and gave a detailed interview to a correspondent.

Politics

Iran decries US 'rogue state' actions in Venezuela and against itself

TEHRAN – Addressing an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani, condemned the United States for its military attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of the nation's democratically elected President and First Lady.
Tehran rallies Latin American allies after US ‘law of jungle’ act in Venezuela

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls with his counterparts from Brazil and Cuba, with the recent U.S. military aggression in Venezuela dominating the discussions.
The West’s nuclear renaissance and the denial of others’ rights

The Trump administration’s renewed focus on reviving the U.S. nuclear industry has once again exposed the deep contradiction between the West’s official narrative of “clean and sustainable energy” and its political treatment of independent countries—a contradiction in which nuclear energy is deemed legitimate for some and criminal for others.

Sports

Iran U23 show structure and discipline against Korea Republic

TEHRAN - Iran’s U23 national team opened their AFC U23 Asian Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Korea Republic, a result that revealed more about the team’s tactical identity and developmental direction than the scoreline itself.
Korea Republic, Iran settle for draw in AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026

TEHRAN - Korea Republic and Iran settled for a goalless draw in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 opening Group C match on Wednesday.
Iranians honor 58th anniversary of Takhti’s death

TEHRAN - Iranians on Wednesday marked the 58th anniversary of the death of legendary wrestler Gholamreza Takhti, a national icon whose legacy extends far beyond sport.

Culture

First International Cartoon and Poster Contest “Terror Online” concludes in Tehran

TEHRAN – The closing ceremony of the first International Cartoon and Poster Contest “Terror Online” was held on the evening of January 5 at the Art Bureau in Tehran.
Veteran actor Saeed Pirdoost passes away at 85

TEHRAN — Renowned cinema and television actor Saeed Pirdoost passed away on Tuesday morning at his home in Tehran, on his 85th birthday, after a battle with cancer.
Braille toys to be unveiled in National Toy Festival

TEHRAN- Iran Association of Toys is set to unveil the country's first Braille toys in the framework of the 10th National Toys Festival, which is currently underway in Tehran.

Economy

Road transit through Iran’s land borders reaches 12.5m tons in 9 months

TEHRAN – Road transit of goods through Iran’s land borders reached about 12.5 million tons in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-Decemebr 21, 2025), reflecting continued growth in overland trade flows across the country, a senior transport official said.
Iran petrochemicals exhibit opens in Kish with exports topping $10b

TEHRAN – Iran’s third petrochemical industry exhibition opened on Kish Island on Tuesday, bringing together more than 200 domestic companies amid renewed focus on technology, investment and export growth in one of the country’s main hard-currency earning sectors.
NIDC completes drilling of 101 oil, gas wells since late Mar. 2025

TEHRAN –National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) has completed 101 oil and gas wells so far this year (started in late March 2025), with total drilling footage reaching 103,456 meters, the company’s head said.

Society

DOE approves seven community conserved areas

TEHRAN – In an effort to strengthen the participation of local communities in conserving nature, the Department of Environment (DOE) has approved seven natural areas to be protected by the public.
Workshop held to enhance national capacity for drug use disorder treatment

TEHRAN – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in close collaboration with the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ) and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), has held a training workshop aimed at enhancing the competencies of drug use disorder treatment professionals through the systematic application of the UNODC TreatNet Training Package.
Health ministry, UNICEF join hands to activate Child Protection Committees in hospitals

TEHRAN – To ensure that medical settings serve as a strong shield for children at risk, the United Nations Children’s Fund, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, has organized an event to strengthen integrated child protection services as the first step toward activating Child Protection Committees within hospitals.

Tourism

Sarakhieh, Iran’s little Venice

At first, it is hard to believe such a place exists in Iran. But deep inside the vast Shadegan wetland in Khuzestan province, there is a village where water is the main road and boats replace cars. This village is Sarakhieh, often called Iran’s “Little Venice.”
Sa’dabad Complex’s historical documents rescanned and recatalogued

TEHRAN - Historical documents held at Tehran’s Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex have been recatalogued and rescanned in recent months following a years-long pause, a museum official said.
Iran to participate in FITUR, EMITT 2026

TEHRAN--Iran is to participate in FITUR (the International Tourism Trade Fair) in Spain and EMITT 2026 in Turkey during current year.

International

Lebanon at the edge of an imposed escalation?

BEIRUT—Amid escalating Israeli enemy rhetoric about widening the circle of confrontation and Washington’s clear shift toward imposing faits accomplis under the logic of “the law of the jungle,” Lebanon finds itself navigating an exceptionally sensitive political and security moment.
Greenland today, Europe tomorrow: Mapping the rise of Trumpland

TEHRAN – President Donald Trump’s imperial ambitions show no sign of slowing, fueled by hubris and the momentum of America’s deadly military strikes in Venezuela — a campaign that culminated in the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump has now declared that Venezuela “will be turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil — valued at roughly $2.8 billion — to the United States.
Lebanon’s governance in crisis

BEIRUT—Imagine a country where a fictitious foreign prince, armed only with a phone and a fabricated authority, can dictate political appointments, unlock frozen bank accounts, and influence judicial decisions—all without leaving his home.