By Payman Yazdani

Tehran signals its oil trade 'legitimate': Japanese expert

TEHRAN– Sachi Sakanashi believes that message of Iran's move to send oil tankers to Venezuela is that Tehran's oil trade is legitimate and the country is ready to send its oil even across the Atlantic Ocean when there is a customer.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

Face mask paintings depict Shahnameh character fighting corona monster

TEHRAN – Ferdowsi’s masterpiece Shahnameh and its seven adventures have been the source of inspiration for Iranian graphic designer Yazdan Saadi’s new collection of paintings on face masks, which depict the mythical Iranian hero Rustam fighting coronavirus monsters.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Learning from each other – Iran’s COVID-19 experiences should be shared: WHO’s Hamelmann

TEHRAN – Iran is benefiting from strengths in fighting against the coronavirus epidemic, including strong primary health care system, production surge in a reasonable time, and multisectoral response, WHO Representative in Iran, Dr. Christoph Hamelmann, said in an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times.

By Farrokh Hessabi

Coronavirus has taught us all humans are equal: Branko Ivankovic

TEHRAN – Former Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says that all humans regardless of color, race, gender, national origin, religion, and political beliefs must join hands to fight Covid-19.

By Payman Yazdani

Tehran's political, diplomatic move sends clear signal to world: Entessar

TEHRAN– Prof. Entessar says that Tehran's political and diplomatic moves sent a clear and unambiguous signal that maritime piracy is not only a challenge to the international legal order but it also threatens Iran's commercial and political rights as a sovereign nation-state.

Has Wall Street Stolen $100 Trillion from the American Public? Will Donald Trump Get It Back?

TEHRAN - Robert David Steele, a former Marine Corps infantry officer and CIA spy as well as an activist for Open Source Everything Engineering (OSEE), contributes regularly to Tehran Times.

By M.A. Saki

The Oslo process was a trap from which the Palestinians never escaped: ex-UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine

TEHRAN- Richard Anderson Falk, professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University and former UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine, says “the Oslo process was a trap from which the Palestinians never escaped”.

By Payman Yazdani

China was, is, and will be peace builder and promoter in West Asia: envoy

TEHRAN- Chinese ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua in an interview with the Mehr News Agency criticizes the U.S. baseless accusations over the outbreak of coronavirus. 

By Mohammad Mazhari

Imam Khomeini viewed the right path move toward Quds: Islamic Jihad representative 

Glorifying the International Quds Day, initiated by the founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini in 1979, is an annual event held on the last Friday of Ramadan to express support for the Palestinians and oppose Zionism and Israel. Quds Day is a unique form of a wide-aware campaign against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.  

Israel: A utopian image or merely a mirage?

TEHRAN – While the founders of Israel had envisioned a utopia for Israeli settlers, now after 72 years, it has brought no freedom or justice to anyone except for some Zionist Jews and been involved in genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians an Israeli-American activist and author tells the Tehran Times.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iran’s social, religious unity ‘a world model for coronavirus response’

TEHRAN – Iran could considerably reduce COVID-19 infections and death toll since the onset of the outbreak, the reason behind which is mainly social and religious unity among Iranians that can be run as a role model anywhere in the world, Alireza Marandi, head of Iran’s Academy of Medical Sciences has said.

By M.A. Saki

It is legal charade to claim right out of U.S. name in Resolution 2231: ex-diplomat 

TEHRAN – A former diplomat says it is legally “absurd” that the U.S. claims it is still a participant to the 2015 nuclear deal just because its name is mentioned in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the pact.

By  Fadi Boudieh and Mehdi Azizi

Former Lebanese president elaborates on Rafik Hariri's bribe to bomb southern Lebanon

TEHRAN– The former Lebanese president Emile Lahoud referred to Rafik Hariri's half a million-dollar bribe to bomb southern Lebanon which made Lahoud demand his own resignation.

By M.A. Saki

U.S. cannot invoke snapback mechanism after JCPOA withdrawal: international law expert

TEHRAN – Seyed Yaser Ziaee, an associate professor of international law from the University of Qom, says it is not possible for the United States to invoke snapback sanctions against Iran based on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which it abandoned in May 2018.

By  Fadi Boudieh and Mehdi Azizi

Iran to overcome sanctions and become more powerful: Emile Lahoud

TEHRAN– The 15th President of Lebanon Emile Lahoud maintains that new powers will emerge in the aftermath of coronavirus and a fundamental change in the balance of power will occur during this era, adding Iran will overcome the sanctions and become more powerful.

By Masoud Hossein

Exclusive: Carlos Queiroz launches attack on former football chief Taj

TEHRAN – Former Iran national football team coach Carlos Queiroz has launched a scathing attack on Mehdi Taj, accusing him of trying to divert attention from contract with Marc Wilmots.

Interview by Masoud Hossein

Berruto: Olympics medal achievable for Iran

TEHRAN – Ex-Italy volleyball coach Mauro Berruto believes that Iran National Team have a chance of winning an Olympic Games medal depending on how they prepare for the Games.

By Mahnaz Abdi

Opposition to IMF’s financial aid for Iran, an indication of U.S. unilateralism: expert

TEHRAN- Like most of the countries around the world, Iran is fighting coronavirus pandemic and it has made the country facing some economic difficulties and limitations.

By Javad Heirannia

JCPOA parties unlikely to accept U.S. argument to extend arms embargo on Iran: ex-CIA official 

TEHRAN – Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, says the Trump administration is arguing that it is still a party to the JCPOA even though it has grossly violated its obligations under the agreement. 

By Payman Yazdani & Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh

Oil U.S. tool to put pressure on China: energy expert

TEHRAN – Monday, April 20 (2020), was a historic day for the oil market. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) closed below zero for the first time in the history of the oil market. President Trump's policies are considered as the main cause of the sharp prices fall and how he is using the factor to put pressure on its major rival, China, however, the fire will damage both producers and consumers in the long run.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

FAO, Iran cooperate to support capacity building

TEHRAN - Maximo Torero, chief economist and assistant director-general for the Economic and Social Development Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), says the organization has just increased its allocation of funds to support capacity building for Iranian experts.

Geopolitical expert:

Launching “Noor-1” satellite to accelerate merging multi-polar world

TEHRAN – Anthony Cartalucci says launching Noor-1 satellite is not only a warning to Iran's enemies but also adds a greater degree of balance to emerging of a multipolar world.

Interview by Masoud Hossein

Exclusive: IWF acting president Papandrea lauds Iranians

TEHRAN – International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) acting president Ursula Papandrea says the Iranian women lifters have risen faster than even expected and she is very happy for them.

Ambassador lauds services to Indian nationals in Qom amid COVID-19

TEHRAN - The Indian ambassador to Iran has lauded the performance of the Iranian Foreign Ministry as well as the local offices of the health and interior ministries for taking care of the Indian nationals in the shrine city of Qom.

By Payman Yazdani

End of federalism!?

U.S. policies can’t stand the test of time forever

TEHRAN – American columnist Stephen Lendman believes that the federal system in the U.S. is on the path to breakdown.

By Javad Heirannia

Prof. not expecting major change in socio-political arrangements

TEHRAN– Prof. Nicholas Onuf, one of the founders of constructivism in International Relations, has told MNA that “Despite the uneven, laggard response of public health authorities at every level to the pandemic, I do not expect a significant change in what I would call modernist socio-political arrangements.”

By Payman Yazdani

Will COVID-19 infect the world order?

TEHRAN – Professor Larry Backer in an interview with Mehr News Agency argues that the concept of COVID-19 may penetrate the world order like the virus attacks individuals.

By Payman Yazdani

Politicians using COVID-19 to centralize existing power: geopolitical expert

TEHRAN–Anthony Cartalucci believes the interests of governments are driving the response to COVID 19 which are generally seeking to centralize existing power while trying to acquire additional power.

By Javad Heirannia

U.S. sanctions against Iran is ‘a geopolitical crime’: Falk

TEHRAN – Richard Anderson Falk, professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, says “Imposition of unilateral sanctions by US against Iran that is, not authorized by the UN Security Council is by itself unlawful and immoral, and indeed what I call ‘a geopolitical crime’.”