Tehran Times

2026-02-01 15:44
By Sheida Sabzehvari

A warning to America, resistance forces placed on alert

Ayatollah Khamenei says any US attack on Iran will trigger an all-out regional war

TEHRAN – As the United States continues to threaten possible war against Iran while expanding its naval military buildup in the Persian Gulf, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that Tehran will not initiate a conflict but will respond decisively, and will also ensure that any future war with the United States becomes a regional one.
- IRGC chief inspects Persian Gulf units ahead of potential new war with Israel

IRGC: Certain European countries have become main hubs for nurturing terrorism

TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has slammed the European Union’s decision to place the force on its so-called “terrorism” list, calling the move legally groundless and politically reckless, and accusing Brussels of aligning itself with U.S. pressure tactics while overlooking realities on the ground in West Asia.
By Xavier Villar

Escalation with Iran is not a linear process

MADRID - In recent weeks, US military pressure in West Asia has reached one of its highest levels, creating a moment of elevated risk and uncertain outcomes. The reinforcement of naval and air assets, the sharpening of deterrent rhetoric and signals of operational readiness have revived a familiar debate in Washington: to what extent can a credible threat of force alter Iran’s behavior without triggering a regional escalation that would be difficult to contain?
By Ranjan Solomon

The high-stakes of a US strike on Iran and a hard-hitting retaliation

GOA - As of late January 2026, the United States has engaged in a major, visible naval buildup near Iran, characterized by President Donald Trump as a "massive armada". This deployment - including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and multiple destroyers - follows intense tensions between Washington and Tehran.
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.

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

Tractor edge Sepahan to remain top of 2025/26 PGPL

TEHRAN – Tractor maintained their place at the top of the table after edging past Sepahan 1–0 in Matchweek 19 of the 2025/26 Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL) on Sunday.
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.

Culture

44th Fajr Film Festival opens with screening of “Guardians of the Sun”

TEHRAN- The 44th edition of the Fajr National Film Festival officially opened on Saturday in Tehran, with the screening of the animated film “Guardians of the Sun.”
Tehran Book Garden to show popular animated adaptations

TEHRAN – The new season of the cinematic event “Watch & Criticism” has returned to the Tehran Book Garden with screenings and discussions of four popular animated adaptations.
“The Rainfall Market” at Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN- “The Rainfall Market” by Korean author You Yeong-Gwang has recently been published in Persian.

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.