Tehran Times

2026-08-08 21:13
Pezeshkian in a press conference:

We will stand firm behind Leader’s decision on war

TEHRAN - Regarding decision on war and peace, Iranian President Masoud says: “Whether we should fight or not, the military commanders know better than you or me. They know their own capabilities. The Leader will make the decision, and whatever decision he makes, we will stand firm to the end.”
- Pezeshkian calls for end to misrepresentation of Iran in meeting with top U.S. media figures

Babak Karimi’s Italian movie “Balcanica” to premiere at 83rd Venice International Film Festival

TEHRAN – Iranian actor Babak Karimi’s new movie “Balcanica,” directed by Nicola Sorcinelli, will have its world premiere in competition at the 23rd Giornate degli Autori, also known as Venice Days, held alongside the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, set to be held from September 2 to 12 in Venice, Italy.
Deputy health minister: Evidence points to phosphorus bombing in Lamerd

TEHRAN - Deputy Health Minister for Research and Technology Shahin Akhoundzadeh has said that there is evidence suggesting the use of phosphorus bombing of Lamerd in Fars province on the first day of the joint US-Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28.
Hormuz reopening depends on US, Iran says

TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said negotiations between Iran and Oman on arrangements for managing the Strait of Hormuz are nearing an agreement, while stressing that reopening the strategic waterway remains contingent on the United States addressing its violations of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.
By Garsha Vazirian

A beat written in blood across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran

TEHRAN — 28 years ago today, Iranian reporter Mahmoud Saremi radioed his newsroom from the Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif as Taliban fighters came through the gate. He identified himself, reported that the city had fallen, and asked what he should do next. Hours later he was dead, along with eight Iranian diplomats.
‘Humble, reasonable, and patient’: President Pezeshkian on the new Leader’s virtues

TEHRAN - President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised military forces, officials, and the public for elevating Iran's global standing in the face of US-Israeli aggression and foreign-backed plots aimed at triggering domestic unrest. The Iranian president made these remarks during a televised broadcast, marking the second anniversary of his inauguration.

Politics

Iran sets six conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN —Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr has set out six conditions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategic waterway will remain closed until the United States changes its hostile conduct toward Iran.
Iran sets the tempo of the conflict

MADRID - As early as February, analysts questioned whether any viable military solution existed that could guarantee US strategic objectives: regime change, the destruction of uranium enrichment capabilities, the end of Iranian support for groups such as Ansarullah, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and the dismantling of the ballistic missile program. Months into the hostilities, reality has spoken. Not only has Washington achieved none of those goals; Iran now controls the Strait of Hormuz, something it did not do before being attacked.
Qalibaf slams Trump’s ‘theater diplomacy’ toward Iran

TEHRAN - Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump’s shifting statements on military threats and negotiations with Iran, calling them “theater diplomacy.”

Sports

Three friendly matches on agenda for Team Melli

TEHRAN - Iran’s Football Federation is working to arrange three friendly matches for Team Melli during the upcoming FIFA international window as preparations continue for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Iran volleyball coach Piazza arrives in Tehran

TEHRAN - Italian head coach of the Iran men’s national volleyball team, Roberto Piazza, arrived in Tehran Friday night to oversee preparations for the upcoming 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Iran handball team set for Serbia camp ahead of Asian Games

TEHRAN - Iran’s men’s national handball team will travel to Serbia after completing three preparation camps to play five friendly matches as part of their final technical assessment ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Culture

Iranian director to stage reading of “The Elephant Man” in Tehran

TEHRAN- A stage reading of American playwright Bernard Pomerance’s play “The Elephant Man” will be held at Sahne-ye Abi Cultural and Artistic Center in Tehran on Sunday.
Iranian architects, project present at World Architecture Festival 2026

TEHRAN – An Iranian project is among the nominees of this year’s edition of the World Architecture Festival (WAF).
Iran, Russia seek deeper cultural ties as Kazan added to Cultural Week program

TEHRAN- Iran's ambassador to Russia has announced that the city of Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, has been added to the list of host cities for Iran Cultural Week in Russia, expanding the event beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Economy

Iran, Azerbaijan forge new economic corridor as border trade surges

TEHRAN- In a decisive move that signals a new phase in regional economic integration, Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan are rapidly expanding their bilateral trade and transit cooperation through a series of high-level agreements, infrastructure projects, and customs facilitation measures. The momentum, driven by political will at the highest levels and supported by tangible results at border crossings, positions the two neighbors as strategic partners in connecting the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf.
Iran-India joint trade working group reviving necessary

TEHRAN- The Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade for Commercial Affairs emphasized the revival of the Iran-India Joint Trade Working Group to expand trade relations between the two countries.
Agriculture, energy ministries’ systems connected for smart water management

TEHRAN- The Director General of the Agricultural Water Affairs Office at the Ministry of Agriculture announced the groundwork for initiating the implementation phases of connecting the agricultural production zoning and cropping pattern systems with the water systems of the Ministry of Energy, stating that this program has been placed on the agenda with the aim of optimizing water utilization and determining the water consumption volume for each farmer.

Society

Tehran, New Delhi to boost scientific ties

TEHRAN – Iranian and Indian officials have highlighted the need to foster scientific ties between the two countries, particularly in education, research, technology, and innovation sectors.
Iran wins medals at International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence

TEHRAN – Iranian students won a gold medal, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the third edition of the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI 2026), held from August 2-8 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
World Association for Medical Law appoints first Iranian representative

TEHRAN - Roya Rashidpouraei, a member of the medical ethics committee of Iran’s Medical Council, has been appointed as the country’s first National Country Representative to the World Association for Medical Law (WAML).

Tourism

Monitoring begins at centuries-old sites in UNESCO-listed city of Yazd

TEHRAN — Monitoring of centuries-old monuments in the UNESCO-listed Historic City of Yazd has begun as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen conservation and management of the Iranian oasis city, a local official has said.
Isfahan heritage records undergo digital preservation

TEHRAN - Isfahan’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department has begun digitizing around 2,000 documents and records held by the province’s cultural heritage documentation center, an official said on Saturday.
Restoration begins at historic Seb castle in central Iran

TEHRAN - Restoration work has begun on the historic Seb castle in Abarkuh county in Iran’s central Yazd province, a local cultural heritage official said on Saturday, as part of efforts to preserve the region’s traditional adobe architecture.

International

A beat written in blood across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran

TEHRAN — 28 years ago today, Iranian reporter Mahmoud Saremi radioed his newsroom from the Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif as Taliban fighters came through the gate. He identified himself, reported that the city had fallen, and asked what he should do next. Hours later he was dead, along with eight Iranian diplomats.
Yemen flips the battlefield on Saudi Arabia

TEHRAN — The video clips from August 6 were unmistakable. Flames consumed a desert encampment. A row of armored vehicles sat reduced to twisted metal. The Yemeni Armed Forces struck first.
Why is Trump suddenly reviving his Gaza plan?

TEHRAN – Trump’s statement about an agreement to disarm Hamas raises questions about his real objectives and reflects the continuing U.S. bias toward Israel, casting doubt on the prospects of achieving lasting peace.