Tehran Times

2026-04-17 23:30
Lebanon ceasefire: Iran puts the US and Israel in check

Hezbollah keeps ‘finger on the trigger’ as it warns Israel against ceasefire breaches

TEHRAN - A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon after weeks of intense fighting has drawn widespread reactions across the West Asia region and globally. Tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese began returning home to Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as towns and villages in southern Lebanon, at dawn on Friday after the truce took effect at midnight on Thursday (2100 GMT). According to UN figures, more than 1.2 million people across Lebanon had been displaced, the majority from the south.

15-year-old girl recounts ‘dark’ days of war

TEHRAN - I am a 15-year-old girl named Shakiba. Ironically, my name in Persian means “patient,” but I’m not patient at all—though maybe I am, I’m not really sure.
By Shahrokh Saei

Iran’s battlefield strength shapes the course of Pakistan-led talks

TEHRAN - The official visit of Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, to Iran underscores Pakistan’s growing role in regional and global diplomacy at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia involving the United States and Israel.
US naval blockade risks wider conflict at sea

Iran threatens to halt trade in three seas

TEHRAN - Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States over the imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, cautioning that continued pressure could endanger regional maritime security and undermine the fragile post-war ceasefire environment.
‘JANFADA’ girls demonstrate readiness to defend country

TEHRAN – Thousands of girls from different age groups and from all walks of life participated in a rally in Tehran on Friday to show their preparedness to defend homeland against any aggression by enemies.
Pakistan’s army chief in Tehran for high-level mediation talks

TEHRAN - A senior Pakistani delegation led by the country’s army chief arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for high‑level talks with Iranian officials.

Politics

Spain reopens its embassy in Tehran in bold challenge to US-Israeli war strategy

TEHRAN - Spain’s decision to reopen its embassy in Tehran has become the clearest demonstration yet of Madrid’s steadfast opposition to the US‑Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched on February 28.
Iran rejects UAE claims on Strait of Hormuz at maritime meeting

TEHRAN- Iran has dismissed as “baseless” accusations by the United Arab Emirates regarding the security and status of the Strait of Hormuz, pushing back against claims that it has threatened commercial shipping in the critical transit route.
Iran turning into key architect of regional security

TEHRAN – The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has backfired.

Sports

Iran-Puerto Rico friendly in jeopardy amid new demands

TEHRAN – A highly anticipated friendly match between Iran and Puerto Rico, slated for June on U.S. soil, is reportedly facing cancellation.
Iran ready for 2026 FIVB U17 World Championship, coach says

TEHRAN – Head coach Arash Sadeghiani has expressed confidence in Iran’s readiness for the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship, where the young Persians will compete in Pool E with Brazil, Bulgaria and Japan.
2025/26 PGPL likely to be cancelled

TEHRAN – After several intensive meetings in recent days aimed at determining the fate of the 2025/26 Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL) season, new reports indicate a significant development: the competition is now considered unlikely to resume.

Culture

Iran condemns YouTube’s removal of AI-driven Lego-style channel over anti-US narratives

TEHRAN- A YouTube channel producing artificial intelligence-generated animations in a Lego-inspired format focusing on recent US-Israeli aggression on Iran has been taken down, drawing criticism over what some describe as selective enforcement of content policies.
Iranian short animation to compete in 4th Voronezh International Animation Film Festival

TEHRAN – The Iranian short animation “The Last Deer” by Mehdi Barghzadegan will compete in the fourth Voronezh International Animation Film Festival “AniMakers,” which will be held in Voronezh, Russia, from May 22 to 24.
Nationwide street performances honor Dena martyrs during Islamic Revolution Art Week

TEHRAN – The sixth day of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Art Week was marked by a series of street theater performances across the country, with 57 productions staged in Tehran and other cities in tribute to the martyrs of the IRIS Dena.

Economy

Strait of Hormuz under threat: Global energy security & economic vulnerabilities

TEHRAN - Trump's warning of a "maritime siege of Iran" has once again directed attention to the Strait of Hormuz as one of the world's most critical chokepoints for energy transportation; a corridor where any disruption could impact the structure of the global energy market and even seaborne trade.
Maintaining economic stability in wartime requires full coordination of monetary policies: president

TEHRAN- During a staff inspection and visit to the Central Bank, the President, referring to the exceptional circumstances caused by the 40-day war and simultaneous external pressures, emphasized the necessity of maintaining financial stability and controlling inflationary expectations.
Solutions to strengthen supply chain of essential goods reviewed

TEHRAN- In a joint meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture and regulatory bodies as well as private sector associations, issues related to the supply chain of essential goods were reviewed.

Society

‘JANFADA’ girls demonstrate readiness to defend country

TEHRAN – Thousands of girls from different age groups and from all walks of life participated in a rally in Tehran on Friday to show their preparedness to defend homeland against any aggression by enemies.
IRCS lauds China’s humanitarian assistance during war

TEHRAN – The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Pirhossein Kolivand, has praised the aid consignments provided by China’s government to help Iran during the US-Israeli war against the country.
Tabiat bridge turns red to mark World Hemophilia Day

TEHRAN – Tabiat bridge in Tehran is lit up in red from April 17 to 19 to mark the World Hemophilia Day, which is observed annually on April 17 to raise awareness of the disease.

Tourism

Damage to Chehel Sotoun Palace worsens as shockwave impact persists

TEHRAN – Damage to the historic Chehel Sotoun Palace has continued to worsen in the weeks following nearby airstrikes, with falling decorative elements and expanding structural concerns raising alarm among heritage officials and conservation experts.
Discover 40,000 years of human history at Tamtaman Cave

TEHRAN - Nestled in the rugged landscapes of northwestern Iran, near the historic city of Urmia, the Tamtaman Cave stands as one of the most evocative windows into humanity’s distant past.
Iran, Afghanistan advance joint UNESCO dossier for Asbads

TEHRAN – Iran is moving closer to finalizing a “complex” UNESCO World Heritage nomination for its ancient wind-powered structures, known as Asbads, with officials confirming that the dossier will be submitted jointly with Afghanistan.

International

The trillion-dollar folly of America’s war on Iran

TEHRAN — As the fog of war partially thins, the economic numbers have hardened into a reality that Washington can no longer mask with the kind of military bravado it relied on during the height of its campaign of aggression against Iran.
Bint Jbeil’s symbolic value for Hezbollah

TEHRAN – Hezbollah’s heroic resistance in Bint Jbeil, a historic nightmare town for the Zionist regime, has been turned into a fresh hell for invaders with a dozen confirmed casualties.
Trump’s brazen 'Antichrist' complex meets torrent of condemnation and Pope’s defiance

TEHRAN — In the quiet, heavy hours following Orthodox Easter Sunday, the world glimpsed something far more unsettling than mere political theater. U.S. President Donald Trump, fresh from waging a campaign of aggression against Iran and issuing apocalyptic ultimatums against the Iranian people, turned his digital fury toward Pope Leo XIV.

Hezbollah keeps ‘finger on the trigger’ as it warns Israel against ceasefire breaches