Tehran Times

2026-10-23 20:39
By Maedeh Zaman Fashami

The US naval blockade of Iran: an illegal act of coercion

TEHRAN - An examination of the legal grounds for the US blockade of Iranian ports, what the UN Charter says, and how international law experts assess the action.
- Russia denounces US naval blockade of Iran as ‘completely unacceptable and illegal’
- Iran's naval blockade has no legal logic, main goal is pressure on China: economic expert

Iran will not resume talks until its conditions are met: top security official

TEHRAN — Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has stressed that Iran will neither resume negotiations nor reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its seven conditions are met, warning that communications cables, regional data centers and artificial intelligence facilities could be targeted if hostilities resume.
Parliament Speaker Qalibaf meets Leader of the Islamic Revolution

TEHRAN – Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Iran’s Parliament, has met with Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, to discuss the latest developments in the military, economic and cognitive warfare waged by the US-Israeli adversary against Iran.
By Staff Writer

Defense Without Limits

Iranian officials say Tehran will place no limits on hitting aggressors and their regional backers in case of a renewed US-Israeli attack

TEHRAN – The tone of the enemy toward Iran has sharply escalated again, with senior American and Israeli officials openly speaking of finishing the job and some analysts warning a new round of war is near, while Iranian political and military officials say the country is fully ready for a severe and unrestricted response.
Pezeshkian: Iran will not bow to US pressure, but does not seek war

TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed that Iran does not seek war but will firmly resist US pressure and will never submit to threats, coercion, or bullying by Washington.
By Michael Bradburn-Ruster

‘No Kings’ protests reflect a crisis of imperial plutocracy in the US

ARIZONA- The most obvious focus of the current “No Kings” protests lies in US citizens’ immediate “bread and butter issues”: brutal cuts to education, social security, and health care ($1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and Childre’s Health Insurance); massive inflation that makes it hard to feed families, pay outrageous costs for health insurance, and endure the exorbitant price of fuel precipitated by the perfidious war on Iran, launched for a second time since June, 2025, in the midst of negotiations.

Politics

Russia is ready to help resolve Iran-US dispute, Putin says

TEHRAN— Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is ready to help resolve the dispute between Iran and the United States, citing Russia’s longstanding relationship with Tehran and expressing interest in Washington’s assessment of the situation in West Asia.
Iran condemns US measures against Cuba as ‘criminal and illegal’

TEHRAN — Iran’s Foreign Ministry has condemned US sanctions and pressure against Cuba, describing Washington’s measures against the Caribbean nation as violations of international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
Baqaei: US seeks to blame Iran for insecurity caused by its own aggression

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has condemned Washington’s call for the international community to denounce Iran over insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States cannot evade responsibility for its own actions by portraying the victim as the aggressor.

Sports

Iran’s Beit Sayah takes gold in 2026 Asian Para Games javelin

TEHRAN – Iranian javelin thrower Sadegh Beit Sayah won a gold medal in the 2026 Asian Para Games on Friday.
Iranian runner Zare snatches gold at 2026 Asian Para Games

TEHRAN - Iran celebrated another success at the 2026 Asian Para Games as Alireza Zare captured gold in the men’s 200m T35 event.
Iranian para swimmers win gold, bronze: 2026 Nagoya

TEHRAN - Iranian swimmers Abolfazl Zarif and Abolfazl Malek Oladi delivered an impressive performance in the Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 at the 2026 Asia, winning gold and bronze medals for Iran.

Culture

Pakistan’s cultural heritage takes center stage at Tehran exhibition

TEHRAN-An exhibition exploring Pakistan’s historical and cultural development, from ancient civilizations to its enduring literary traditions, was inaugurated in Tehran on Tuesday, bringing together diplomats, cultural officials and researchers to highlight the longstanding ties between Iran and Pakistan.
Brazilian adaptation of ‘Taste of Cherry’ to be released in 2027

TEHRAN – An adaptation of Abbas Kiarostami’s 1997 Palme d’Or winner “Taste of Cherry” is going through post-production in Brazil.
Exquisite handwritten Quran unveiled at the TMOCA

TEHRAN – The unveiling ceremony for the handwritten Holy Quran by world-celebrated Iranian calligrapher Mohammad Ehsai was held on Wednesday, in the presence of Seyyed Abbas Salehi, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and Master Ehsai at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMOCA).

Economy

TCCIMA energy committee chairman raises 6 demands to facilitate exports

TEHRAN- Saeed Tajik, Chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA), and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Iran Quality and Standard Inspection Company, at the 30th National Export Day ceremony, raised six demands from the 14th government and emphasized the need to end the “neither war nor peace” situation and to use upcoming opportunities to develop exports.
Iran, Tajikistan private sector ties strengthened with tripartite chamber memorandum

TEHRAN- A tripartite cooperation memorandum was signed among the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Khorasan Razavi Province, the Iran-Tajikistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce of Khatlon Province.
New horizons of economic co-op being formed between Mazandaran, Uzbekistan: Uzbek envoy

TEHRAN- According to a Khabar Online report from Mazandaran, Fariddin Nasriyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Iran, met with Mehdi Younesi Rostami, Governor of Mazandaran province, and while thanking the provincial officials for their warm hospitality, emphasized the broad capacities for economic and trade cooperation between Mazandaran and Uzbekistan.

Society

Iran opens university doors to Azerbaijani girls facing hijab restrictions

TEHRAN – Iran has invited Azerbaijani girls to pursue higher education at Iranian universities amid restrictions on wearing headscarves in schools in the neighboring country.
Free dental services offered during national oral health week

TEHRAN – The health ministry provided different dental services during the week-long national oral and dental health campaign, held from October 17 to 23 nationwide.
National event aims to raise public awareness of digital media

TEHRAN – Media and Information Literacy Week is being observed nationwide from October 24 to 30, with the aim of promoting media literacy and raising public awareness of how to engage with media and navigate the digital space.

Tourism

Spouses of six countries’ ambassadors named honorary tourism envoys of Hamadan

TEHRAN - The spouses of ambassadors from Denmark, Romania, Mexico, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Armenia, along with Romania’s ambassador to Iran, have been named honorary ambassadors for cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts in Iran’s western province of Hamadan.
Experts highlight Lut Desert geopark bid, Kerman’s geological and natural attractions

TEHRAN - Experts have highlighted the potential benefits of establishing a UNESCO Global Geopark in Iran’s Lut Desert, saying the initiative could promote sustainable tourism, create local jobs and strengthen protection of the region’s unique geological heritage.
Iran calls for nationwide oral history program across all 31 provinces

TEHRAN - Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts has called for a national program to record and document oral history across all 31 provinces, saying the initiative is essential to preserving the country’s historical and cultural memory.

International

Why is Europe on fire this October?

TEHRAN — It started with teenagers blockading their schools. Three weeks later (October 17), about 550,000 people marched through French towns and cities, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Unions say 800,000.
Greece’s alliances with UAE and Israel fail eastern Libya–Turkey test

In the days before Libya’s eastern parliament approved a contentious maritime agreement with Turkey, Greece was trying to assemble its allies - Egypt, Israel and the UAE - to prevent the deal, multiple officials in the region told Middle East Eye.
The emperor has no clothes: Trump’s parade of power and the naked American empire

TEHRAN - In 1837, Danish author Hans Christian Andersen published The Emperor’s New Clothes, the story of a vain ruler deceived into believing he was wearing magnificent garments invisible to fools and those unfit for office. His ministers praised what did not exist, and the public followed, until a child finally cried out: “But he hasn't got anything on!”

Iranian officials say Tehran will place no limits on hitting aggressors and their regional backers in case of a renewed US-Israeli attack