Tehran Times

2026-04-12 20:38
No deal in Islamabad due to US extortion

Holding the upper hand on the battlefield, Iran sees no reason to yield to Washington’s excessive demands

TEHRAN- US President Donald Trump has once again intensified threats against Iran following negotiations between Tehran and Washington in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, where high-level talks ended on Sunday without a deal.
- Tehran enters Islamabad talks with deep distrust of Washington

Iran, Russia presidents discuss West Asia developments

TEHRAN- Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone call to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
By Shahrokh Saei

Hegseth faces backlash for calling the Persian Gulf the ‘Arabian Gulf’

TEHRAN - US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has come under fire after referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” in a post on X, reigniting a long-standing dispute over the internationally recognized name of the body of water.
Lascaris: Trump’s Iran policy trapped by delusions and unilateralism

TEHRAN- Political analyst Dimitri Lascaris says the Trump administration’s approach to Iran is fundamentally flawed – undermined by ideological delusions such as an obsession with maximalist pressure and a disregard for diplomatic norms.
Qalibaf: US failed to earn Iran’s trust in Islamabad talks; ‘diplomacy of power’ to continue

TEHRAN- Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said the United States has yet to earn Tehran’s trust following the latest round of negotiations held in Islamabad.
Vance’s approval rating plunges to a historic low

TEHRAN- Vice President JD Vance’s popularity has plummeted in recent months, reaching what analysts describe as the lowest approval rating for any vice president at this stage of a first term in modern history.

Politics

Iran medical body identifies over 3,750 victims of US–Israeli aggression

TEHRAN – Iran’s Forensic Medicine Organization has identified 3,753 people killed in the joint US-Israeli war, the head of the body announced, amid efforts to assess the human toll of the aggression launched on February 28.
Betrayed at the table, unbroken in spirit: Iran’s path to dignified peace with US

ISLAMABAD- As a Wall Street banker with more than thirty years observing the turbulent waters of Iran-U.S. relations—from the transformative 1979 Islamic Revolution that reshaped the Middle East to the high-stakes Islamabad talks unfolding even as I write these words in April 2026—I have witnessed cycles of hope and betrayal that few other relationships can match.
Former UN expert says US responsible for failed Islamabad talks

TEHRAN- Alfred de Zayas has blamed the United States for the failure of recent negotiations with Iran, while calling on the international community to take a firmer stance against Washington’s policies.

Sports

FIBA World Cup qualifier: Iran to face Syria on June 29

TEHRAN – Iran’s postponed FIBA World Cup qualifying clash against Syria has been scheduled for June 29, though the host venue has yet to be finalized.
Iran freestyle team defend title in 2026 Asian Championships

TEHRAN – Iran freestyle team defended their title at the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships on Sunday.
2025/26 ACL Elite: Araki to officiate match between Tractor and Shabab Al Ahli

TEHRAN – Japanese referee Yusuke Araki has been chosen to officiate match between Iran’s Tractor and Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE in the 2025/26 AFC Champions League (ACL).

Culture

Martyr Leader’s lifelong devotion to books, reading

TEHRAN – Every year in mid-spring, the Martyr Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei visited the Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) as one of his prominent characteristics was his fondness for books and reading.
“Minab’s Angels” music album unveiled in tribute to martyred students

TEHRAN –The music album “Minab’s Angels” was unveiled during a ceremony held at the Tehran's City Theater, on Friday, the eighth day of the "For Iran, the Source of Art" cultural festival.
Iranian artist commemorates Martyr Leader through painting, poetry

TEHRAN- To mark the 40th day since the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iranian painter and poet Ali Davoudi has unveiled a new portrait of the Martyr Leader, accompanied by a poem, reflecting the sorrow and resilience of the nation’s artists.

Economy

Iran war & petrodollar’s perfect storm

TEHRAN- As tensions escalate in the Persian Gulf, a new analysis from Deutsche Bank warns that the ongoing conflict with Iran may inadvertently trigger a seismic shift in global oil markets.
Butterfly effect of energy crisis stronger than forecasts: energy expert

TEHRAN- An energy market expert stated that the butterfly effect of the energy crisis in the Persian Gulf was far more widespread than experts had predicted, demonstrating just how high the world's dependence on West Asian energy truly is.
Government support packages for war-damaged businesses to be implemented

TEHRAN- The Deputy for Economic Policy at Iran's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance has announced the implementation of a series of government support measures for enterprises and households damaged by the war, stating that planning to support businesses began in the very first weeks of the conflict.

Society

Some 8,000 IRCS teams provide relief services during war

TEHRAN – From the beginning of the imposed war on February 28 till April 9, a total of 7,984 relief teams consisting of more than 28,000 rescuers affiliated with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has carried out more than 2,000 rescue missions.
‘Damage to Pasteur Institute of Iran threatens regional health security’

TEHRAN – Mario Moreira, President of the Pasteur Network, has expressed concern over the destruction of Pasteur Institute of Iran, targeted by the US-Israeli airstrikes on April 2, and warned of the potential regional impacts as it disrupts the major role of this century-old pillar of global health in prevention and control of existing and rising health threats in the region.
Iran receives intl. humanitarian aid from Iraq, China, Azerbaijan, and Dagestan

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has received the fourth humanitarian shipment from Iraq, and the third aid consignments from China and Azerbaijan.

Tourism

Alexander’s Prison: Where myth meets architecture in the heart of Yazd

TEHRAN - Known locally as Zendaan-e Eskandar (“Alexander’s Prison”) and more formally as the Zia’iya School, this enigmatic monument stands among the most intriguing historical attractions of Yazd, which is a UNESCO-listed oasis city famed for its earthen architecture and deep cultural continuity.
Over 29 million Nowruz trips taken in Iran amid challenging conditions

TEHRAN – Iran saw more than 29 million domestic trips during the Nowruz holiday period, a significant increase compared to previous years, according to a statement from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
Surge in illegal excavations reported in Fars province amid war

TEHRAN – Illegal treasure hunting has increased across several archaeological sites in Iran’s Fars province since the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, a local cultural heritage activist said on Sunday.

International

Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes

TEHRAN — After around twenty-one hours of talks in Islamabad on April 11, the highest-level meeting between Tehran and Washington since 1979, no agreement emerged. Vice President JD Vance stepped off Air Force Two and delivered the verdict with chilling clarity: "They have chosen not to accept our terms."
US irrational demands bring Islamabad talks to inconclusive end

TEHRAN – Excessive and irrational demands from the United States during the marathon talks in Islamabad brought the negotiations between Iranian and American negotiators to a failure.
Is Israel’s negotiation offer a trap for Lebanon?

TEHRAN – As bombs fall on Lebanon, a sudden invitation to talks emerges, but is it peace or a political ambush?

Holding the upper hand on the battlefield, Iran sees no reason to yield to Washington’s excessive demands