Iran’s environmental body takes unprecedented step in fight against plastic pollution

TEHRAN — In a bid for public engagement Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) has banned bottled water at the DOE offices and all other organizations affiliated with it nationwide.

By Payman Yazdani

Trump’s threat to break JCPOA is not serious

TEHRAN - Dr. Pastori Gianluca believes that U.S. Presidents threats to withdraw from the JCPOA should not be taken serious because he knows breaking the agreement will put the U.S. in a difficult position.

Iran’s Esteghlal to sign Yazalde Gomes Pinto

Iranian football club Esteghlal are going to sign Yazalde Gomes Pinto, known simply as Yazalde, in the January transfer window.

By Javad Heirannia

There is no concerted movement in EU to accept Trump’s demands: Adib-Moghaddam

TEHRAN - Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, Chair of the Centre for Iranian Studies at the London Middle East Institute believes “I don't think that there is any concerted movement in the EU to accept the demands set by Trump.”

By Javad Heirannia

Iran's missiles program is not covered by JCPOA: Shireen Hunter

TEHRAN - Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, a professor of political science at Georgetown University, tells the Tehran Times that that “It is generally understood that Iran's missiles program is not covered by the JCPOA. She adds But America, and key European countries such as the UK and France, believe that separate negotiations should begin regarding Iran's missile program aimed at answering the concerns of Iran's regional neighbors and other states.”

By Payman Yazdani

Trump’s approach toward JCPOA contrary to U.S. interest: Prof. Zonis

TEHRAN - Commenting on Trump’s recent approach toward the JCPOA, Marvin Zonis, Professor of international political economy says his approach is stupid and contrary to the U.S. national interest.

By Javad Heirannia

Iran won’t accept restrictions on uranium enrichment permanent: Nephew

TEHRAN – Richard Nephew, who served as the lead sanctions expert for the U.S. team negotiating with Iran, is of the opinion that I do not believe the EU will accept to make restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment permanent.

By Javad Heirannia

Trump hopes to continue his game of diplomatic chicken with Iran: expert

TEHRAN – Professor Nader Entessar from South Alabama University says “The game of "what will the U.S. do, what it will not do" every 90 days must end.  Iran cannot afford to remain in a state of continuous limbo with respect to the JCPOA's fate.” 

By Javad Heirannia

Trump demand limits on Iran enrichment program is unrealistic: ex-White House official

TEHRAN - A former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology says “I think that the EU position is that Iran would not accept indefinite limits on its enrichment program and that Trump’s demand is therefore unrealistic.” 

By Javad Heirannia

I doubt the dates in JCPOA will be changed: Matthew Bunn

TEHRAN - Matthew Bunn, a specialist in nuclear security at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, believes that “The dates in the JCPOA were the result of hard-fought compromises.  I doubt they will be changed.”

By Javad Heirannia

Trump wants to destroy Iran’s ability to defend itself against aggressors: Professor

TEHRAN – A senior expert in Arab affairs who teaches international business at George Washington University is of the view that Trump in reality “wants to destroy Iran’s ability to defend itself against aggressors from the region and farther afield.”

By Javad Heirannia

Legitimacy Western democracies problem : Peter Onuf

TEHRAN – Peter S. Onuf, a professor of history at the University of Virginia, says “the problem (in some places, crisis) of legitimacy is by no means a strictly American one -- nor, I shouldn't have to add, is it confined to Western "democracies.”

By Javad Heirannia

Widening gap between upper and lower reaches of socio-economic scale in U.S.: Stuart Sim

TEHRAN – Stuart Sim, a professor of critical theory from Northumbria University, says “There is a widening gap between the upper and lower reaches of the socio-economic scale in America, and that is causing particularly deep resentment at the lower end.”

By Yousef Seifi & Somaye Rezaei 

Four characteristics of the concept of ‘Return to the self’ in Shi'ism

TEHRAN -Islamic fundamentalism is a kind of revivalism (Salafism) which has turned into one of the most significant regional and international threats; even though, the fundamentalists talk about expanding the Islamic territory and guiding humankind toward redemption.

By Javad Heirannia

Trump is not champion of democracy: Charles Taliaferro

TEHRAN – Charles Taliaferro, a professor of philosophy at St. Olaf College, says “Trump might be considered as heading up a democratic element in the USA, but his relentless attack on the free press, his attempts to have his rivals put in jail, his deportation of innocent young people who were brought to the USA illegally but as children, his sticking down of protections from pollution, his withdrawal from the Paris accord -which is widely supported by most, educated Americans, his defending neo-Nazi groups as no worse than left wing protestors, and more, make him out to not be a champion of democracy.”

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Iran seeks extension to film co-production plans overseas    

TEHRAN – The Cinema Organization of Iran (COI), where the major policies for Iranian cinema are made, is working on special plans to extend the country’s overseas collaboration on film production.

By Javad Heirannia

Fukuyama was monumentally wrong on “end of history”: Thomas Weiss

Professor Thomas G. Weiss, former director of the United Nations Intellectual History Project says “Fukuyama was monumentally wrong in his celebrated “end of history.” 

By Javad Heirannia

U.S. new strategy isn’t much different from previous administrations: Shireen Hunter

TEHRAN - Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, a professor of political science at Georgetown University, tells the Tehran Times that that “The new U.S. strategy only sets out the broad outlines of American priorities, which in fact are not much different from those of previous administrations, or for that matter any other nation, namely security and economic prosperity.”

By Javad Heirannia

Ongoing protests in Iran were CIA/Mossad orchestrated: Lendman

TEHRAN- U.S. columnist Stephen Lendman says that “I strongly suspect ongoing protests in Iran were CIA/Mossad orchestrated, another futile color revolution attempt sure to fail.” 

By Javad Heirannia

Soft power does not major concern to Trump administration: Robert Jervis

TEHRAN - Robert Jervis, a professor of international politics at Columbia University, says so called "soft power" does not seem to be of major concern to Trump administration. Congress apparently won't take Trump up on the request for general legislation on JCPOA and “probably will deadlock on most relevant measures,” Jervis tells the Tehran Times.

By Javad Heirannia

U.S. new grand strategy don't aborning traditional elements of soft power: Bruce Hall

TEHRAN - Rodney Bruce Hall, a professor of international relations at the University of Macau, says, “U.S. Grand Strategy has long relied on keeping its armed forces to a strength level that the threat of new U.S. military interventions is always credible.”

By Payman Yazdani

Tough resolutions, epic statements inadequate for saving al-Quds: Maleki

TEHRAN _ Political analyst Sadegh Maleki told Jerusalem al-Quds will not be liberated merely by issuing resolutions and making harsh statements in absence of any practical measures against Trump’s decision.

By Payman Yazdani

Prof. Backer: Nothing in NSS suggesting a strategic objective to reject JCPOA

TEHRAN _ Commenting on the U.S. new National Security Strategy, Larry Backer, Professor of Law and International Affairs in Penn State University says there is nothing in the NSS that suggests a strategic objective to reject the JCPOA.  

By Javad Heirannia

U.S. is increasingly isolated: ex-White House official

TEHRAN - A former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology says “The significance of diplomacy has declined during the Trump Administration and the U.S. is increasingly isolated and looked at more as a problem than for its leadership as a result.” 

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

Put up with earthquakes and do the spadework

TEHRAN — The earthquakes across Iran over the past 40 days, particularly the most recent one in the capital Tehran, have fueled widespread, well-founded fear amongst people alike.

By Payman Yazdani

Logoglu: Trump seeking Jewish lobby support 

Trump also wants to divert attention from his troubles at home by his decision on Jerusalem

Osman Faruk Logoglu, a senior member of the Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP), says Donald Trump took unfortunate step on al-Quds for domestic and foreign policy considerations.

Mehdi Torabi & Vahid Pourtajrishi

Iranian rails safer than expected: UIC high expert

TEHRAN - George Oliver, the head of Safety Database (SDB) of the Union of the Int’l Railways (UIC) praised the Iranian railways for its high safety and reliability even in comparison with some European railways.

By Javad Heirannia

Difficult to predict future of Baghdad's political currents: expert

TEHRAN – Professor Nader Entessar from South Alabama University says “it is difficult to predict the future of Baghdad's political currents.”