Tehran Times

2026-06-30 20:43
By Faramarz Kouhpayeh

Iran says 'no final deal' until US does its part

Officials announce talks with Washington will not resume until all provisions of the June 17 memorandum are fully upheld

TEHRAN – Iranians are delaying the resumption of talks toward a final deal—one that would address Iran’s security and economic concerns in exchange for limits on its nuclear program—until the United States fully upholds the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that made the talks possible in the first place, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced during his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.
- US bombs MoU
- Iran negotiation team travels to Qatar to continue diplomacy

Defense chief vows ‘decisive’ response to any ceasefire breach by US

TEHRAN — Iran’s acting defense minister has warned that the country’s armed forces remain on a war footing and will strike back forcefully against any violation of the current ceasefire, as the United States appears either unable or unwilling to fully uphold its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed in mid-June.
Araghchi: Iran launches legal action over attack on IRIS Dena

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Tehran has begun legal proceedings, in coordination with the Iranian Navy, over the attack on the IRIS Dena, describing the incident as a "war crime" that will be pursued through international legal channels.
Iran bolsters border security as IRGC thwarts terrorist cell in northwest

TEHRAN – Iranian security forces have intensified counterterrorism operations along the country's western and northwestern borders after dismantling an armed terrorist cell in West Azerbaijan Province. At the same time, senior military officials underscored the Armed Forces' readiness to repel any potential ground threat against the country.
By Garsha Vazirian

Behind the new Lebanon framework lies the trap of demographic erasure, endless war

TEHRAN — The document signed in Washington on June 26 under American “mediation” was celebrated in Western capitals as a historic breakthrough, even though it is a crude instrument of asymmetric warfare designed to secure an indefinite Israeli military presence.
By Wesam Bahrani

Gaza thwarts seditious plot, renews allegiance to resistance

TEHRAN – The devastated and besieged Gaza Strip, a small, impoverished territory, has endured, for more than two years and eight months, one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.

Politics

Internal divisions will weaken national strength, president says

TEHRAN– Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said internal divisions will undermine the country's national strength and embolden its adversaries, stressing that national unity and cohesion remain Iran's greatest strategic asset.
The twilight of American empire in Persian Gulf

MADRID – On June 16, the US President signed a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Adopting a triumphalist tone to mask the magnitude of the defeat, Donald Trump urged the ships of the world to start their engines and let the oil flow once again. This epilogue, marked by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the naval blockade, represents the empirical confirmation of the structural exhaustion of US foreign policy in the region.
Iranian woman scholars issue formal indictment of US and Israeli war crimes

TEHRAN - A coalition of Iranian women scholars has released an open letter to international legal bodies, human rights organizations, and academic institutions, formally documenting systematic war crimes committed by the United States and Israel during their recent military aggression against Iran.

Sports

Legendary Iranian wrestler Mollaghasemi dies at 97

TEHRAN – Mahmoud Mollaghasemi Tabrizi, the first Iranian wrestler to win an Olympic medal, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 97.
Nenad Kljaić arrives in Tehran to begin Iran handball mission

TEHRAN – Newly appointed Iran men's national handball team head coach Nenad Kljaić arrived in Tehran on Tuesday afternoon to officially begin his tenure with the national team.
Results don’t tell the whole story of Iran’s VNL campaign

TEHRAN - Iran’s second week in the 2026 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League produced only one victory, but the overall performances suggested a team moving in the right direction under Roberto Piazza.

Culture

Art installation in Minab becomes symbol of collective remembrance

TEHRAN- In the aftermath of the tragedy at Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, a striking artistic intervention transformed the damaged site into a powerful visual reminder of loss, memory, and resilience. The installation, known as “Red Butterflies”, was conceived and executed by the Architecture Center of the Art Bureau, under the direction of architect Mostafa Momeni-Rad, as an effort to preserve public attention on the victims and ensure that the tragedy would not fade from collective memory.
Two Iranian short films to attend 11th Full Bloom Film Festival in North Carolina

TEHRAN – Two short films from Iran will compete in the 11th Full Bloom Film Festival, which is set to be held in North Carolina, the US, from September 10 to 12.
Beyzai’s “Afra, or the Day Passes” on stage at Tehran Theater

TEHRAN – The play “Afra, or the Day Passes” written by the renowned Iranian playwright, theater director, and filmmaker Bahram Beyzai is performed on stage at Tehran Theater in Tehran.

Economy

Iran, Turkey eye deeper economic cooperation as ICCIMA pushes economic diplomacy

TEHRAN- During a meeting with the Head of the Turkey–Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) said that expanding economic, social, and cultural cooperation among nations can help prevent conflicts and wars. He stated that economic diplomacy should be employed as an instrument for promoting peace.
Developing exploration standards, expanding private sector participation, top priorities of IMIDRO

TEHRAN – The head of the executive board of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) emphasized the need to transform the country's mineral exploration policies, saying that developing national exploration standards, expanding private sector participation, attracting foreign investors, and training specialized human resources will be the main pillars of Iran's mineral exploration development program.
Aras Free Zone, Railways sign agreement to turn Jolfa into a transit hub

TEHRAN- The Aras Free Zone Organization and the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI) have signed an agreement to transform Jolfa into a major transit and logistics hub, IRIB reported.

Society

Iran marks World Drug Day

TEHRAN – A special ceremony was held in Tehran on Tuesday to mark World Drug Day with President Masoud Pezeshkian and representatives of some foreign countries in attendance.
ISC IWUR 2025 includes more Iranian universities

TEHRAN – The 2025 World University Rankings (WUR) report by the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) has included 76 Iranian universities, an increase from 72 in 2024.
Iran National Science Foundation, BRICS to cooperate in flagship projects

TEHRAN – The Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) and BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Framework will support the implementation of strategic collaborative research projects through joint flagship calls.

Tourism

Experts discuss strategies to protect cultural heritage and historic cities during wartime

TEHRAN – Iranian experts on Tuesday examined international approaches to safeguarding cultural heritage and the historical identity of cities during armed conflict, calling for stronger documentation, digital preservation, legal protection, and broader international cooperation while emphasizing the role of cultural resilience in the aftermath of war.
Shushtar’s World Heritage value lies in its engineering system, not individual structures, official

TEHRAN – The outstanding universal value of Iran’s UNESCO-listed Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System lies in the engineering knowledge and integrated water management system behind its construction rather than its individual bridges, dams or mills, the head of the World Heritage site said as the country marked the 17th anniversary of its inscription.
Martyred leader's funeral ceremonies to be nominated for national heritage status

TEHRAN – Iran's minister of cultural heritage said on Monday that the government plans to seek national heritage registration for the planned funeral ceremonies of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mehr news agency reported.

International

Behind the new Lebanon framework lies the trap of demographic erasure, endless war

TEHRAN — The document signed in Washington on June 26 under American “mediation” was celebrated in Western capitals as a historic breakthrough, even though it is a crude instrument of asymmetric warfare designed to secure an indefinite Israeli military presence.
Gaza thwarts seditious plot, renews allegiance to resistance

TEHRAN – The devastated and besieged Gaza Strip, a small, impoverished territory, has endured, for more than two years and eight months, one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.
The Iran war was intended to remove obstacle to Trump’s new world order

LONDON – It is clear that the hidden objective declared at the beginning of the February war on Iran, namely the elimination of the government through decapitating leaders and creating overwhelming chaos, failed. The reason for the failure is that Iran is a rising power carrying the flame of liberation in the region and seriously defying American hegemony, where no other country dares to do so.

Officials announce talks with Washington will not resume until all provisions of the June 17 memorandum are fully upheld