Tehran Times

2026-02-08 22:05
Claudius returns to poison the deal

As diplomatic talks begin in Muscat, Netanyahu rushes to Washington to ensure peace with Iran never materializes

TEHRAN – Shakespeare’s Hamlet shows King Claudius as the main cause of Hamlet’s downfall. Claudius begins by secretly murdering Hamlet’s father and taking the throne, then hides his crime behind the image of a calm and caring king.
- The goals of Netanyahu's trip to U.S.
- How Trump rejoined ‘team’ Netanyahu

$The boomerang of division: Israel's fractured leadership and Gaza's unbroken will$
By staff writer

The boomerang of division: Israel's fractured leadership and Gaza's unbroken will

TEHRAN – The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 exposed serious failures in Israel’s security system and laid bare deep divisions within the Israeli political and military leadership.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Smuggling, sovereignty, and transitional power: The Lebanese–Syrian border after Assad

BEIRUT — The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government did not bring an end to smuggling between Syria and Lebanon. Instead, it transformed its logic, scale, and actors.
By Wesam Bahrani

Europe and Trump: Strategic paralysis and the end of a unified West

TEHRAN – Europe’s survival and its position on the global stage now hinge on a critical moment of self-reflection.
Beyond the colonial gaze: Rethinking Iran on its own terms

By Xavier Villar

MADRID – The concept of a colonial toolbox remains a potent but often under-examined framework for understanding contemporary international discourse. It does not refer to a physical object, but to the enduring repertoire of practices, epistemologies, and governmental rationalities developed by imperial centers to categorize, manage, and ultimately subordinate colonized populations.
Pezeshkian: Dialogue rooted in Iran’s legal rights, not pressure

TEHRAN — President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised the latest round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States as a “step forward,” stressing that Tehran’s position stems from rights guaranteed under international law — not concessions made under pressure.

Politics

We insist on right to enrichment even at cost of a war: Iranian FM

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran favors “diplomacy,” but at the same time, it is “ready for war”.
Iran’s military chief warns US will bear responsibility for any regional war

TEHRAN – Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, has said Iran remains fully equipped and ready to deliver a “swift, decisive, and regret-inducing” response to any act of aggression — while making clear that the Islamic Republic seeks no regional war and is acting with restraint.
11 members of PJAK terror group arrested in western Iran

TEHRAN - A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says as many as 11 local ringleaders of the PJAK terrorist group have been apprehended in the city of Kermanshah, the capital of a western province with the same name.

Sports

Iran's Futsal: a flawed victory sounds continental alarm

TEHRAN - Iran's national futsal team secured their 14th AFC Asian Cup in 2026, yet this hard-fought triumph feels less like a celebration of dominance and more like a stark warning.
Iran’s Greco-Roman team win 2026 Zagreb Open

TEHRAN – Iran’s Greco-Roman team claimed the title of the 2026 Zagreb Open Sunday night.
Tractor to meet Al Sadd in 2025/26 ACL Elite

TEHRAN - Tractor football team will be seeking to continue their fine form with a fifth win when they face Al Sadd SC in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 on Tuesday.

Culture

Iran’s Book of the Year Awards honors outstanding literary works

TEHRAN- The selected works of the 43rd Iran’s Book of the Year Awards were unveiled during the closing ceremony of the prestigious cultural event, held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Sunday in the presence of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi, and a large gathering of writers, researchers, intellectuals, and members of the literary community.
Tehran’s City Theater hosting “Rostam and Esfandiyar”

TEHRAN – The play “Rostam and Esfandiyar” directed by Dariush Nassiri and Reza Hassankhani is on stage at the City Theater in Tehran.
Persian rendition of “The Transfiguration of the Commonplace: A Philosophy of Art” released

TEHRAN – The Persian translation of the book “The Transfiguration of the Commonplace: A Philosophy of Art” by Arthur Coleman Danto has been released in the bookstores across the country.

Economy

Iran positioning itself as strategic hub on China-Europe corridor

TEHRAN- The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (known as RAI) announced that so far 60 trains from China destined for Iran and the European Union have entered our country.
President launches Tous gas field development project to boost supply in northeast

TEHRAN – Iran on Monday launched the development project of the Tous gas field in the country’s northeast by presidential order, aiming to strengthen gas supply stability in the region and feed the Shahid Hashemi-Nejad gas refinery in Sarakhs.
Daily flare gas collection reaches 9 mcm: oil minister

TEHRAN – Iran has collected about 9.0 million cubic meters (mcm) per day of associated and flared gas over the past 15 to 16 months, bringing total daily collection to around 16 mcm, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said on Monday.

Society

INOTEX 2026 slated for May

TEHRAN – The 15th International Innovation and Technology Exhibition (INOTEX 2026) is planned to be held in Tehran from May 20 to 23.
Knowledge-based companies to attend ChinaPlas 2026

TEHRAN – Supported by the Organization for Development of International Cooperation in Science and Technology, Iranian knowledge-based firms will participate in the 38th International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries (ChinaPlas) scheduled to be held from April 21 to 24, 2026, in Hongqiao, Shanghai, China.
Department of Environment enumerates measures to enhance public participation

TEHRAN – Since the beginning of the current Iranian year, March 2025, the Department of Environment has taken different steps to promote public participation in environmental protection.

Tourism

Tehran, Baku consider reopening passenger border crossings

TEHRAN - Iran and Azerbaijan are considering reopening of passenger traffic across their shared border following talks between senior officials, Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said on Saturday.
Semnan tourism department to revamp surroundings of Shah Abbasi caravanserai

TEHRAN – Semnan’s cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts department has begun plans to reorganize the area surrounding the centuries-old Shah Abbasi caravanserai which is located in the north-central Iranian province.
Preserving historical monuments is necessity in country with ancient past: restoration graduate

TEHRAN - The appropriate restoration of historical monuments is not a matter of choice but a necessity in a country where every corner contains layers of history, a young restoration specialist says.

International

$The boomerang of division: Israel's fractured leadership and Gaza's unbroken will$
The boomerang of division: Israel's fractured leadership and Gaza's unbroken will

TEHRAN – The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 exposed serious failures in Israel’s security system and laid bare deep divisions within the Israeli political and military leadership.
Smuggling, sovereignty, and transitional power: The Lebanese–Syrian border after Assad

BEIRUT — The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government did not bring an end to smuggling between Syria and Lebanon. Instead, it transformed its logic, scale, and actors.
Europe and Trump: Strategic paralysis and the end of a unified West

TEHRAN – Europe’s survival and its position on the global stage now hinge on a critical moment of self-reflection.

As diplomatic talks begin in Muscat, Netanyahu rushes to Washington to ensure peace with Iran never materializes

By Xavier Villar