Tehran Times

2026-01-20 20:51
By Faramarz Kouhpayeh

10 lies Western media is telling you about the unrest in Iran

TEHRAN – January marked Iran’s most eventful month since the nation came under direct U.S.-Zionist strikes in June of 2025. What began as harmless, peaceful protests by business owners demanding economic reforms—the fundamental source of the Iranian people’s hardship being years of crippling Western sanctions—devolved into what can essentially be characterized as systemic urban terrorism.
- Mossad hunting for blood in Iran's protests
- Public tip-offs aid arrest of 3,000+ in terror network crackdown

More US-Israeli ‘sabotage cells’ dismantled across Iran

TEHRAN — Iranian security and intelligence agencies announced a series of decisive operations on Tuesday, successfully dismantling multiple organized terror networks and “ISIS-style” cells across several provinces.
Lavrov says Trump’s remarks against Iran are ‘deeply concerning’

TEHRAN - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that US President Donald Trump's incendiary remarks against Iran in support of violent protestors are “deeply concerning”.
Riots were intended to disrupt peace and stability in Iran: Turkish president

TEHRAN - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reacted to the recent riots in Iran, unashamedly instigated by US President Donald Trump and the Israeli regime.
By staff writer

Davos showdown over Greenland: Europe confronts Trump, faces its costly US reliance

TEHRAN — Europe and the United States remain locked in a tense political standoff. That tension was on full display at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, where European leaders openly criticized President Donald Trump’s push to take control of Greenland and his threats to impose new tariffs on European countries. Their remarks underscored a growing sense of frustration in Europe over Washington’s increasingly confrontational approach.
By Shahrokh Saei

Trump’s second term: Thunder at home, flames abroad

TEHRAN — One year after Donald Trump returned to the White House, the national mood is uneasy. Polls show that half of Americans believe the economy has worsened under Trump’s leadership, and his approval rating remains stubbornly low.

Politics

Riots were part of anti-Iran moves by US and Israel, Pezeshkian tells Pakistan PM

TEHRAN - Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, says the recent riots in the country were the continuation of futile efforts by the U.S. and Israeli regime during the 12-day war against Iran back in June 2025.
Araghchi blasts Davos billionaires’ club for Zionist surrender

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has fiercely condemned the World Economic Forum (WEF) for revoking his invitation to the Davos summit, pointing out that the organization succumbed to fabricated narratives and intense political pressure from Israel and the U.S.
‘We’ll set their world on fire’: Iran's military issues warning over leadership red line

TEHRAN — Senior Iranian military commanders on Tuesday delivered a fierce rebuff to recent threats from Washington, warning that any hostile move against the Islamic Republic’s leadership or sovereignty will trigger a global response that will “set the enemy’s world on fire.”

Sports

Iranian mountaineer Gozali goes missing after winter Makalu summit

TEHRAN - An Iranian mountaineer, Abolfazl Gozali, who had conquered Makalu, has gone missing on the way back.
Iran aims for the next stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: official

TEHRAN – The Secretary General of the Iran Football Federation, Hedayat Mombeini, stated that all efforts are aimed at reaching a point for a successful World Cup appearance and advancing to the later rounds.
Iran unchanged in FIFA ranking

TEHRAN - Iran maintained their 20th position in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Monday.

Culture

Documentary on Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna wins at France’s Lumière Awards

TEHRAN – The documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk” directed by Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi about life in Gaza during the Israeli military actions, won the Best Documentary award at France’s 31st Lumière Awards in Paris on Sunday.
Fajr Theater Festival’s My Iran section to spotlight national resistance

TEHRAN- A new section titled My Iran has been added to the 44th edition of the Fajr International Theater Festival, the secretary of the festival has announced.
“The Old English Baron” comes to Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN- A Persian translation of English novelist Clara Reeve’s book “The Old English Baron” has recently been published by Qoqnus Publications in Tehran.

Economy

Daily gas supply to power plants reaches 170m cubic meters

TEHRAN - The head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) announced the daily delivery of over 170 million cubic meters of gas to power plants in the past three days.
Customs clearance of essential goods hits new record high

TEHRAN - The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced that a new record has been reached for the clearance of various essential goods from the country's customs in the past 24 hours.
Car production reaches 643,000 units in 9 months

TEHRAN - An analysis of production statistics for Iran’s three major automakers in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2025) shows that car production has reached 643,86 units, a decrease of 56,293 units compared to the same period last year.

Society

Iran, China, UNAIDS celebrate success of pathfinder HIV project

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recently celebrated the successful completion of a pathfinder HIV project, designed to bridge the HIV testing gap in Iran’s national HIV response and generate alternative solutions to ensure a resilient national HIV testing programme in the years to come.
DOE to develop pest management plan

TEHRAN – Given the importance of protecting biodiversity and genetic resources, the Department of Environment (DOE) is planning to develop a pest management plan to combat plant pests and pathogens as the main threat to the country’s unique ecosystem, particularly forests.
Iran ranks 1st in cognitive sciences among Islamic nations

TEHRAN – According to Web of Science (WoS) data, over a five-year period (from 2021 to 2025), Iran (with 32 documents) ranks first in cognitive sciences among Islamic countries.

Tourism

Karaftoo cave requires special measures for potential UNESCO nomination, governor says

TEHRAN - Karaftoo cave in Kordestan province requires targeted measures to support a potential nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status, the governor of Divan-Darreh said on Tuesday.
Technology, public participation key to protecting historical sites, researcher explains

TEHRAN – Technology can play an effective role in the preservation of historical monuments through documentation, conservation and restoration, Iranian historical heritage researcher Hossein Alizadeh said in an interview published on Sunday.
Massive nabkhas added to national list

TEHRAN – Iran has added nabkhas located near the city of Kashan in central Isfahan province to its national list of natural heritage sites, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said on Tuesday.

International

Davos showdown over Greenland: Europe confronts Trump, faces its costly US reliance

TEHRAN — Europe and the United States remain locked in a tense political standoff. That tension was on full display at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, where European leaders openly criticized President Donald Trump’s push to take control of Greenland and his threats to impose new tariffs on European countries. Their remarks underscored a growing sense of frustration in Europe over Washington’s increasingly confrontational approach.
Trump’s second term: Thunder at home, flames abroad

TEHRAN — One year after Donald Trump returned to the White House, the national mood is uneasy. Polls show that half of Americans believe the economy has worsened under Trump’s leadership, and his approval rating remains stubbornly low.
From ceasefire to coercion: How Lebanon is dragged into a surrender framework

BEIRUT — What is unfolding around Lebanon’s so–called “ceasefire oversight mechanism” is not a misunderstanding nor a technical dispute—it is a deliberate campaign of pressure.