Tehran Times

2026-01-19 20:57
By Soheila Zarfam

Stabbed, burned, beheaded, and then sanctioned

A look at the January bloodshed the West and Israel fueled in Iran, and how they hope to do it again

TEHRAN- Qassem’s colleagues at the police force had been searching for him for several agonizing hours. They lost sight of him on the night of January 8th, shortly after they were dispatched to quell potential violence erupting from demonstrations over economic grievances. Until that point, most of the protests across the country had remained peaceful and orderly.

By Xavier Villar

Why Washington misunderstands power in Iran

An analysis of US rhetorical interference and the structural realities of Iranian power

MADRID - U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion in an interview with Politico, stating that "It's time to look for new leadership in Iran", could be interpreted as just another provocation in his usual repertoire of international rhetoric. However, read closely, it reveals something deeper and more persistent: not only an anachronistic vision of the world order, but a structural misunderstanding of the Iranian political system and the role that leadership plays within it. This analytical deficit is not trivial; in fact, it decisively shapes the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of any American strategy toward Tehran.
By staff writer

Serbian president’s invocation of a modern Operation Ajax and the 1953 script

TEHRAN – In a recent televised interview, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic issued a stark contention that the current unrest in Iran is not a purely organic domestic movement, but a calculated repetition of 20th-century regime-change tactics.
Foreign-backed terror cells across Iran crushed: Intelligence Ministry

TEHRAN — In a series of high-precision operations, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has announced it has successfully dismantled several foreign-backed terrorist cells tasked with orchestrating “kill-and-blame” plots and conducting high-casualty attacks on security centers.
By Ranjan Solomon

The Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ is Humpty Dumpty diplomacy — assembled for spectacle, not restoration

GOA — The idea of constituting a “Board of Peace” for Gaza may sound benevolent, even urgent, to those watching the carnage from a distance.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Hezbollah’s rational sovereignty in the face of imperial subjugation

BEIRUT — Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem's speech on Saturday, addressed to Israel’s and America’s tools in Lebanon under the striking declaration, “We are the most rational,” was not a rhetorical flourish, but rather a political indictment.

Politics

Top Iranian officials hail defeat of foreign-backed sedition in joint statement

TEHRAN — The heads of Iran’s three branches of government issued a rare joint statement on Monday commending the nation for crushing a sophisticated “terrorist war” and pledging an unrelenting, synchronized effort to resolve the country’s economic challenges.
Iran security forces repelled a mob of 200 raiding Palestinian diplomatic residence: report

TEHRAN — A mob of approximately 200 rioters reportedly launched a coordinated assault on the residence of Palestinian Authority Ambassador Salam al-Zawawi on January 8 during the riots and terror attacks in some cities in Iran that day.
Recent riots the Iranian version of Lebanon pager attacks, says Qalibaf

TEHRAN – Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, declared that the unrest experienced in Iran on January 8th and 9th was a highly coordinated, ISIS-like terrorist war, directly instigated by the U.S. President.

Sports

Pouladgar named Iran’s Chef de Mission for the 2026 Asian Para Games

TEHRAN – Mohammad Pouladgar was named the Chef de Mission of Iran’s delegation for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
Kargari: Iran aims to be top three at 2026 Asian Para Games

TEHRAN – Ghafour Kargari, head of the National Paralympic Committee, says that since last year Iran has had a special target for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya: to finish among the top three countries.
Persepolis lose to Fajr Sepasi: 2025/26 PGPL

TEHRAN – Persepolis missed the chance to move to the top of Iran’s 2025/26 Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL) after a 2-1 defeat to Fajr Sepasi on Sunday.

Culture

Ammar Popular Film Festival grows in global reach with over 700 entries worldwide

TEHRAN- The 16th edition of the Ammar Popular Film Festival has received over 700 works from 11 countries, the secretary of the festival has announced.
“Iran After the Mongols” available in Persian

TEHRAN – The Persian translation of the book “Iran After the Mongols” has been released in the Iranian book market.
Exhibition of modern metal sculptures underway in Tehran

TEHRAN – A solo sculpture exhibition by Iranian artist Amir Hossein Jabbari is underway at Baa Gallery in Tehran.

Economy

NPC sets to increase petchem production capacity by 130m tons

TEHRAN - The head of Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) stated that the company has set a goal of increasing petrochemical production capacity by over 130 million tons under the Seventh National Development Plan.
Iran, Tajikistan to remove drivers' visas

TEHRAN - The Tajik Foreign Ministry announced that the country and the Islamic Republic of Iran will lift the visa regime for each other's international truck drivers from the beginning of March this year.
NIOC to offer 12% of the country's crude oil processing to private sector

TEHRAN - The investment and business manager of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said with the implementation of skid-mounted oil processing unit (SOPU) projects under the Public- Partnership (PPP) model, 12 percent of the country's crude oil processing will be carried out by the private sector.

Society

GII 2025: Iran ranks 11th among Islamic nations

TEHRAN –According to the 18th edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) report, the Islamic Republic of Iran ranks 11th among Islamic countries in 2025.
'Shiblou wetland world's second favorite habitat for lesser white-fronted geese'

TEHRAN – Hosting some 7,000 to 7,500 lesser white-fronted geese annually has made Shiblou wetland in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern Iran, the second favorite habitat for the species to winter after China.
WFP releases December report on Iran

TEHRAN – The World Food Program (WFP) has released a report, expounding on activities in Iran over the month of December.

Tourism

Mayamey and its centuries-old Persian caravanserais

TEHRAN--Mayamey in Semnan province, with its collection of historical caravanserais such as Mayamey, Miandasht, and Abbasabad, represents part of Iran’s cultural heritage.
Iran, Tajikistan to bilaterally scrap visas for truck drivers from March

TEHRAN – Iran and Tajikistan have set to abolish visa requirements for each other’s international transport drivers starting in early March, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Ilam handicrafts displayed at exhibition in Iraq’s Kut

TEHRAN – Artisans from Iran’s western Ilam province have taken part in a handicraft’s exhibition in Kut, the capital of Iraq’s Wasit province.

International

The Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ is Humpty Dumpty diplomacy — assembled for spectacle, not restoration

GOA — The idea of constituting a “Board of Peace” for Gaza may sound benevolent, even urgent, to those watching the carnage from a distance.
Hezbollah’s rational sovereignty in the face of imperial subjugation

BEIRUT — Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem's speech on Saturday, addressed to Israel’s and America’s tools in Lebanon under the striking declaration, “We are the most rational,” was not a rhetorical flourish, but rather a political indictment.
Syria’s shifting northeast: A new step on ground long shaped by foreign powers

TEHRAN — The main Kurdish fighting force in northeast Syria — commonly known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — has reached a centralization agreement with the government under Ahmed al-Sharaa, reflecting a shift in how several key areas in the northeast will be managed following recent developments on the ground.

A look at the January bloodshed the West and Israel fueled in Iran, and how they hope to do it again

An analysis of US rhetorical interference and the structural realities of Iranian power