Tehran Times

2026-02-01 15:44
If US launches another War, it will be a ‘regional war,’ Leader warns

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any new U.S. attack on Iran would escalate into a “regional war.”
- IRGC chief inspects Persian Gulf units ahead of potential new war with Israel

By Abbas Akhoundi

A framework for collective security in the Persian Gulf and West Asia

TEHRAN - The gradual erosion of the liberal international order and the emergence of a more coercive global environment have profoundly altered the security calculus for middle powers. In the current international landscape—often described as a “new world order”—the direct use of force by major powers has become increasingly normalized.
Trump’s tower of deceit: Epstein’s files pull back the curtain

Over three million pages of DOJ files fuel critical allegations, placing the U.S. president at the heart of Epstein's elite sex scandal network

TEHRAN – The newest release of the Epstein files has once again pulled U.S. President Donald Trump, along with a long list of powerful figures, into the center of a story that refuses to fade. The U.S. Department of Justice — the federal agency responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing the FBI — published more than three million pages of documents, along with thousands of images and videos, on Friday. What emerged is a portrait of Epstein’s world that is both familiar and newly disturbing: a network of wealth, secrecy, and influence that stretched across politics, entertainment, business, and even intelligence circles.
By Fatemeh Kavand

American security and double standard of disorder

TEHRAN - While Donald Trump labels American protesters “professional agitators” and calls for their imprisonment or deportation, the very same pattern of behavior has for years been framed in Western narratives of insecurity in Iran as “civil protest”—a stark rupture in how order, security, and the legitimacy of violence are defined.
Putin hosts Iranian security chief in Kremlin

TEHRAN — President Vladimir Putin received Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, for a high-stakes summit at the Kremlin on Friday.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

How is Washington’s oil-first strategy redrawing Libya’s geopolitical map?

BEIRUT — The recent visits of Massad Boulos, adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump for the Middle East and African affairs, to Tripoli and Benghazi have ignited intense debate inside Libya.

Politics

Egypt urges de-escalation in calls with Iran and US

TEHRAN — Egypt has intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed conflict in West Asia, holding separate phone calls with Iran’s foreign minister and the U.S. Middle East envoy amid mounting regional concern that President Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric could push the region toward another war.
Government must listen to the grievances of people: Pezeshkian

TEHRAN - President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that officials must listen to the grievances of the people.
Army chief says ‘Iran’s finger on the trigger’ as US talks up naval military buildup

TEHRAN – The commander-in-chief of Iran’s Army (Artesh) has reaffirmed that the country’s armed forces are on full combat alert, warning that any reckless move by the United States or Israel would backfire catastrophically, threatening not only their own forces but the entire region.

Sports

2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup: Iran see off Afghanistan

TEHRAN - Iran survived a fightback from Afghanistan to top Group D of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 with a 5-2 win on Sunday.
Our main goal is gold at 2026 Asian Para Games: Behrouz Soltani

TEHRAN – Behrouz Soltani, head coach of Iran’s national wheelchair basketball team, said that their primary objective is to win the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
We need to criticize ourselves to fix weaknesses: Jafari

TEHRAN – Marzieh Jafari, head coach of Iran’s women’s national football team, says self-criticism is essential as the team prepare for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Culture

Iranian children’s author Ahmad Akbarpour nominated for 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Awards

TEHRAN – The International Board on Books for Young People has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Awards, with an Iranian author in the list.
16th Ammar Popular Film Festival concludes in Tehran

TEHRAN – The 16th Ammar Popular Film Festival concluded on the evening of Thursday, January 29, in Tehran.
Iranian artist pens truth on Venezuela's front page

TEHRAN- An Iranian artist has articulated the nation's perspective on recent developments through the platform of a major Venezuelan publication.

Economy

Iran targets $10b in energy services exports to Eurasia by 2028/29

TEHRAN – Iran is aiming to export about $10 billion worth of energy-related services, engineering expertise and goods to the Eurasian region by 2028/29, leveraging a free trade agreement as its main platform for expansion, an industry official said.
Iran’s exports to Africa jump 66% in 9 months yr/yr

TEHRAN – Iran’s exports to Africa rose 66 percent in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2025) from a year earlier, driven by stronger trade engagement and policy support, a senior official at the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO) said.
Govt. announces new investment incentive for industrial parks

TEHRAN – Iranian government has introduced a new incentive for investors in industrial parks and zones, cutting upfront land payment requirements as part of efforts to support production and ease investment conditions, the Industry, Mining and Trade Ministry said.

Society

Wetlands most threatened ecosystems on earth

TEHRAN – Wetlands are among the ecosystems with the highest rates of decline, loss, and degradation; they are disappearing three times faster than forests and are Earth’s most threatened ecosystem.
VP attending Egypt intl. conference on women’s rights

TEHRAN – Zahra Behrouz-Azar, the Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs, is participating in an international conference on leveraging religious and media discourse to protect and promote women’s rights, being held on February 1 and 2 in Cairo, Egypt.
Iran atop Islamic nations in molecular, genetic technologies

TEHRAN – The Web of Science (WoS) has ranked Iran first among Islamic countries in molecular and genetic technologies over the 10 years from 2000 to 2024.

Tourism

Tehran tourism fair postponed amid concerns

TEHRAN - Iran has decided to postpone the 19th Tehran International Tourism and Handicrafts Exhibition following a joint meeting between tourism officials and private sector representatives.
Koozeh-Shekani: Where tradition, belief and renewal converge

TEHRAN - The Koozeh-Shekani ceremony is one of the nearly forgotten traditions observed on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar year, coinciding with Charshanbe Suri, in some villages and towns of South Khorasan province in eastern Iran.
Natural heritage overlooked in Iran’s tourism policy, researcher says

TEHRAN – Iran’s natural heritage is an integral part of the country’s national identity but remains poorly defined, under-prioritized and constrained by institutional conflicts, a natural heritage expert said.

International

Trump’s tower of deceit: Epstein’s files pull back the curtain

TEHRAN – The newest release of the Epstein files has once again pulled U.S. President Donald Trump, along with a long list of powerful figures, into the center of a story that refuses to fade. The U.S. Department of Justice — the federal agency responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing the FBI — published more than three million pages of documents, along with thousands of images and videos, on Friday. What emerged is a portrait of Epstein’s world that is both familiar and newly disturbing: a network of wealth, secrecy, and influence that stretched across politics, entertainment, business, and even intelligence circles.
How is Washington’s oil-first strategy redrawing Libya’s geopolitical map?

BEIRUT — The recent visits of Massad Boulos, adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump for the Middle East and African affairs, to Tripoli and Benghazi have ignited intense debate inside Libya.
Rafah border crossing: What the reopening reveals about Israel’s next moves

TEHRAN – The scheduled opening of the Rafah border crossing on Sunday is another sign of the Israeli regime’s larger scheme.

Over three million pages of DOJ files fuel critical allegations, placing the U.S. president at the heart of Epstein's elite sex scandal network