Tehran Times

2026-01-28 21:24
By Soheila Zarfam

US plan: ‘Make Iran Texas again’

Senator Cruz wants to bring Texas-style weaponization to Iran, openly stating that Washington must arm terrorists

TEHRAN – Ted Cruz, the U.S. senator from Texas, has a reputation for rhetoric that often outpaces his grasp of its consequences. He was a central figure whose remarks fuelled the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and he remains infamous among his constituents for fleeing to Cancun during a deadly winter storm that crippled the state’s power grid. On the world stage, he is a reliable advocate for American military intervention, from West Asia to South America.
- Iranians ready for the next war, regardless of what Trump says
- Iran begins ‘targeted arrest’ of rioters

By Xavier Villar

From ICE to Iran: Power without symmetry

MADRID - Thomas Friedman’s recent column in The New York Times, in which he equated the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with Hamas, falls into an analytical simplification that ultimately obscures more than it clarifies.
By Fatemeh Kavand

The West’s double standards on police violence

TEHRAN- In the West, police pursue opposition figures all the way to hospital beds and call it “law enforcement.” In Iran, police restraint is labeled a “bloody crackdown.” This deliberate double standard is not a media mistake; it is the organized censorship of truth and a core component of the narrative war against Iran.
Collective efforts needed to counter US unchecked power: Sharif University

‘Overt military intimidation and economic strangulation designed to incite internal fragmentation entail global attention’

TEHRAN - Sharif University of Technology has issued a statement signed by 103 faculty members warning against the global threats of the unchecked power of the United States and the need for a collective responsibility to counter them.
By Wesam Bahrani

Israel's Rafah closure is a death sentence for Gaza's patients

TEHRAN – Israel's continued closure of the Rafah crossing amounts to a death sentence for thousands of Palestinian patients and wounded trapped in the Gaza Strip.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Lebanon’s paradox: An unfinished state and a necessary resistance

BEIRUT — The central challenge facing Lebanon today is often misrepresented as a confrontation between the “state” and the “Resistance.” In reality, it is a struggle between a state that has yet to be fully realized and a defensive necessity imposed by persistent danger.

Politics

Diplomacy and threats are incompatible, Iran tells US

TEHRAN - Talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said diplomacy will fail to prove “effective” or “produce results” through military threats.
Iran’s Larijani, Qatar PM share views on regional developments

TEHRAN – Qatar’s prime minister on Wednesday telephoned Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to share views about the latest developments in the region.
Resolve issues with Iran one by one, Turkish FM tells US

TEHRAN – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday called on the United States to resolve its problems with Iran one by one.

Sports

10-man Foolad defeat Persepolis: 2025/26 PGPL

TEHRAN — 10-man Foolad pulled off a dramatic 3-1 victory over Persepolis in Matchweek 18 of the 2025/26 Iran’s Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL) at the Foolad Arena in Ahvaz on Wednesday.
Iran learn opponents in 2026 VNL

TEHRAN - The Iranian men’s national volleyball team have learned their pool assignments for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), following the official announcement by the competition organizers.
Iran beat Malaysia at 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup

TEHRAN - Iran’s title defense started with a 4-1 win against Malaysia in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 Group D tie on Wednesday.

Culture

Iranian artist pens truth on Venezuela's front page

TEHRAN- An Iranian artist has articulated the nation's perspective on recent developments through the platform of a major Venezuelan publication.
Book exhibition at Kanoon displaying 300 titles by Iranian expats

TEHRAN – A book exhibition titled “Tak Khal” (literally meaning Ace), featuring 300 published works by Iranian expats in various languages, is underway at the Reference Library of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon), in Tehran.
Veteran film critic Parviz Nouri passes away

TEHRAN- Parviz Nouri, a veteran Iranian film critic, screenwriter, and director, passed away in San Francisco on Tuesday due to throat cancer. He was 87.

Economy

Maritime transport key to trade security: transport minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Transport and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh said maritime transport plays a pivotal role in trade security, cost reduction and sustainable access to global markets, describing the Persian Gulf as central to the country’s macro-level planning.
Iran boosts trade with Oman, Qatar, UAE

TEHRAN – Iran’s trade with Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates rose in the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 21 –December 21, 2025) compared with the same period last year, a senior official at Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) said.
Tehran to host Iran–Russia joint economic committee meeting

TEHRAN – The 19th session of the Iran–Russia Joint Economic Committee meeting will be held in Tehran in mid-February, reflecting expanding cooperation prospects between the two countries, Iran’s deputy oil minister for international and commercial affairs said.

Society

Iran, Philippines discuss ways to boost counter-narcotics co-op

TEHRAN – Iranian and Filipino officials have explored the potential to enhance ties in combating narcotics.
Modern tech to help resolve environmental issues

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to resolve environmental challenges utilizing modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Iran attends Asian Nano Forum

TEHRAN – Attending the Asian Nano Forum in Japan, Emad Ahmadvand, the secretary of the headquarters for the Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council, has presented an account of the country’s progress and accomplishments in the nanotechnology sector.

Tourism

Siraf historic port dossier submitted to UNESCO for World Heritage review

TEHRAN - Iran has formally submitted the nomination dossier for the historic port of Siraf to UNESCO for review and possible inscription on the World Heritage list, the deputy minister for cultural heritage said on Wednesday.
Mexican photographer: Iran, a country with cultural diversity and beyond stereotypes

TEHRAN—Mexican documentary photographer Roberto Flores, who traveled to Iran for the first time, emphasized Iran's cultural and human potential and said: “My goal in traveling to Iran is to record the cultural diversity and lifestyle of Iranian nomads, a living reality that can challenge the stereotypical narratives of Iran in the world.”
Lori traditional clothing: an amalgam of Iranian culture, history and identity

TEHRAN – Lori traditional clothing is one of the most vivid expressions of Iran’s indigenous culture. More than a form of dress, it reflects the history, beliefs and lifestyle of the people of the Zagros region who have preserved their Iranian identity for centuries.

International

Israel's Rafah closure is a death sentence for Gaza's patients

TEHRAN – Israel's continued closure of the Rafah crossing amounts to a death sentence for thousands of Palestinian patients and wounded trapped in the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon’s paradox: An unfinished state and a necessary resistance

BEIRUT — The central challenge facing Lebanon today is often misrepresented as a confrontation between the “state” and the “Resistance.” In reality, it is a struggle between a state that has yet to be fully realized and a defensive necessity imposed by persistent danger.
A truce in words only: Israel keeps bombing Gaza

TEHRAN – Israel’s killing of two Palestinians in Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood on Tuesday reflects a familiar pattern. Israel is once again violating the October truce it claims to uphold. On paper, the ceasefire exists. On the ground, Israeli gunfire, airstrikes, and shelling continue.