Tehran Times

2025-08-19 20:30
By Shahrokh Saei

Ukraine faces lose-lose choice

Ukraine peace push exposes transatlantic fault lines

TEHRAN - Three days after giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a warm, high-profile welcome in Alaska, President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House on Monday.
- Zelensky says willing to 'discuss giving up occupied territory' if 'Ukraine could join NATO'
- European leaders to hold emergency summit on Ukraine

By Sondoss Al Asaad

Positions by Larijani, Qassem, and al-Houthi abort Washington’s threats to Lebanon

BEIRUT— Beirut’s transformation into an airstrip for international diplomatic flights reflects an escalation in the regional and international tensions.
By Wesam Bahrani

Hamas accepts proposed deal for ceasefire

TEHRAN – Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions have announced their approval of a ceasefire proposal presented by mediators.
Economy minister outlines new financing plans to curb inflation, support production

TEHRAN – Iran’s Economy Minister said the government is preparing revisions to the 2025 budget law to reduce the deficit, expand supply chain financing, and steer large enterprises toward the capital market in a bid to ease inflationary pressures and boost liquidity for the private sector.
Iran's military strength has increased since 12-day war: IRGC

TEHRAN – The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that Iran’s military preparedness is now significantly higher than it was two months ago, when the war with Israel began.
By Mahmoud Zekavat

An unjustifiable coup

A re-examination of the 1953 coup in Iran

TEHRAN – Simplified, popular narratives often make history shallow, sterile, and politically charged. These oversimplifications wrap around historical events and figures, preventing a clear understanding and often twisting the truth with clichés.

Politics

Iran used its older generation of missiles during recent war with Israel, says defense minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics has declared that the country possesses advanced missile systems with significantly greater capabilities than those deployed during the recent 12-day war against Israel, cautioning that Tehran will not hesitate to use them in response to any new hostilities.
President Pezeshkian's Armenia visit: Cementing a strategic partnership

TEHRAN — President Masoud Pezeshkian’s two-day trip to Armenia, which began on Monday, reaffirmed the close ties between Tehran and Yerevan despite persistent anti-Iran narratives in certain Western media outlets.
Iran announces first domestic overhaul of BK-117 helicopter engine

TEHRAN – Despite international sanctions limiting its access to aviation components, Iran’s domestic experts have successfully performed a full engine overhaul on a BK 117 helicopter.

Sports

Iran to take on Kazakhstan in 2025 FIVB U21 World Championship opener

TEHRAN - Defending U21 men’s volleyball world champions and title-holders of the three most recent AVC Asian U20 Men’s Championships Iran, whose team also claimed the U19 world silver two years ago, will play Kazakhstan in Pool B in one of the three opening matches at the upcoming 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship in China on Thursday.
PGPL week 1: Shocking upsets and strong starts set tone

TEHRAN - The first week of the Iran’s Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL) unfolded with intense matches on Monday and Tuesday, delivering unexpected results and early signs of fierce competition in the 25th season.
Michael Oenning named Persepolis assistant coach

TEHRAN – German coach Michael Oenning has been named Persepolis football club’s new assistant coach.

Culture

Iranian film, juror to participate in DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in South Korea

TEHRAN – The documentary “Cutting Through Rocks,” directed by Iranian filmmakers Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni will compete in the 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, set to be held from September 11 to 17 in Gyeonggi, South Korea, where Iranian film critic, screenwriter, and editor Pouya Aghelizadeh will serve as a juror as well.
Kafka's letters to his sister, parents published in Persian

TEHRAN – The Persian translation of the book “Letters to Ottla and the Family,” which is a collection of Franz Kafka's letters to his sister Ottla as well as some letters to his parents Julie and Hermann Kafka, has been released in the Iranian bookstores.
Iran mourns passing of Master Mahmoud Farshchian: legendary artist laid to rest

TEHRAN- On Monday, the funeral procession of Master Mahmoud Farshchian, the celebrated Iranian miniaturist and painter, was held in Isfahan, drawing a vast crowd of mourners from across Iran.

Economy

Belarus views industrial cooperation with Iran as promising

TEHRAN- Belarusian Industry Ministry places great importance on the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Belarus and Iran, Belarusian Industry Minister and Co-chair of the Belarusian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Andrei Kuznetsov told BelTA on the sidelines of the high-level talks between Belarus and Iran at the Palace of Independence in Minsk on August 20.
Iran, Armenia slash tariffs as trade pact deepens under Eurasia framework

TEHRAN – Iran’s Industry, Mining and Trade Minister said tariffs on 87 percent of goods traded between Iran and Armenia have been eliminated, as Tehran presses ahead with efforts to expand a preferential trade pact with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
IEA says Iran boosts oil output by 200,000 barrels a day in July

TEHRAN – Iran’s crude oil production rose by about 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which reported the country’s output reached 3.27 million bpd.

Society

Comprehensive plan for combating SDSs approved

TEHRAN – The national specialized working group on sand and dust storms (SDSs), in cooperation with other governmental bodies, has approved a comprehensive plan to address SDSs, which will be used as a national reference document to enhance the country’s resilience against one of the most acute environmental threats.
Six Iranian universities in Shanghai ranking 2025

TEHRAN – Shanghai University ranking 2025 has placed six Iranian universities among the top 1,000 institutions worldwide, down from 9 in 2024.
Intl. Conference on Persian Gulf oceanography slated for January

TEHRAN – The sixth international conference on the Persian Gulf oceanography is scheduled to be held on January 27 and 28, 2026.

Tourism

6,000-year-old fishing village reveals ancient maritime diet and fishing technology in Iran’s Makran

TEHRAN - Archaeologists working at the Koupal site in Dashtyari county, southeast Iran, have uncovered remarkable evidence of a 6,000-year-old fishing settlement, providing detailed insights into ancient maritime subsistence strategies.
Iran, Belarus agree to launch direct flights, ease visa rules

TEHRAN – Iran and Belarus have agreed to launch direct flights and expand tourism exchanges during President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Minsk, Iran’s tourism minister said on Wednesday.
Opportunity available for 1m pilgrims to reside in holy city of Mashhad: deputy minister

TEHRAN—Deputy Tourism Minister Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpei gave news of the possibility of providing accommodation for one million people in the holy city of Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province, during the last days of the month of Safar, which coincides with the anniversary of the demise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the martyrdom of Imam Hassan (AS), and the martyrdom of Imam Reza (AS).

International

Positions by Larijani, Qassem, and al-Houthi abort Washington’s threats to Lebanon

BEIRUT— Beirut’s transformation into an airstrip for international diplomatic flights reflects an escalation in the regional and international tensions.
Ukraine faces lose-lose choice

TEHRAN - Three days after giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a warm, high-profile welcome in Alaska, President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House on Monday.
Hamas accepts proposed deal for ceasefire

TEHRAN – Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions have announced their approval of a ceasefire proposal presented by mediators.

Ukraine peace push exposes transatlantic fault lines

A re-examination of the 1953 coup in Iran