Tehran Times

2025-12-26 21:40
By Ezzedine Shallah, Palestinian filmmaker and researcher

Who will tell our story?

The Gaza-based filmmaker Ezzedine Shallah reflects on the endless sufferings of his people

DEIR AL-BALAH - In the early days of the war on Gaza—in a time that can only be described as genocide—I found myself trapped in emotions that defied language: disorientation, anxiety, fear, grief, and a pain so heavy it blurred reality itself. Life became a haze, yet I knew, with painful clarity, that unimaginable days were approaching—days we would be forced to live through, whether we could comprehend them or not.
- ‘Project Sunrise’: Trump’s vision for Gaza
- Disarmament in Gaza: ‘Day after’ pressure

By Garsha Vazirian

Israel’s digital house of cards

Why the cyber superpower myth is failing

TEHRAN – For decades, Israel has meticulously curated an image of itself as an impenetrable "cyber superpower," a high-tech "villa in the jungle" where the fabricated "start-up nation" myth provided a psychological shield for its settler population.
By Soheila Zarfam

UNSC session shows West failed in snapback gamble

Meeting sees US and Europe defend hardline stance, Iran and allies call for end to failed approach

TEHRAN – Western states dragged Iran and members of the UN Security Council to a session on Tuesday to push for the implementation of pre-JCPOA UN sanctions against Iran, which the E3 (Germany, UK, France) managed to be reinstated back in August, but faced substantial challenges in implementing them due to opposition from a host of countries, including Iran’s most powerful allies, Russia and China.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Implications for Yemen’s prisoner exchange

BEIRUT—A historic breakthrough has emerged in Yemen’s humanitarian landscape with the signing of an agreement to release 1,700 prisoners from the army and popular committees in exchange for 1,200 detainees from the opposite side, including seven Saudis and 23 Sudanese.
By Wesam Bahrani

Gaza truce turns to strategic impasse

TEHRAN – The resistance in Gaza is fighting a battle guided by a logic of achievable deterrence.
No rules, no inspections until legal clarity from IAEA: Iran nuclear chief

TEHRAN – Iran’s senior nuclear official has clarified that the nation will not entertain illegitimate demands for the inspection of its nuclear facilities damaged in acts of foreign aggression.

Politics

‘Who can solve Iran’s many problems?’; created the fire, claims the hose

A recent New York Times’ report on Iran , titled “who can solve Iran’s many problems? Not I, says the president”, is not an attempt to grapple with the country’s complex economic and political realities. It is a carefully constructed narrative exercise—one that deliberately removes decisive external factors in order to assign responsibility for Iran’s challenges in a narrowly defined, politically convenient way. What emerges is not journalism in the classical sense, but narrative warfare by other means.
Iran questions US definition of ‘diplomacy’ after envoy’s ironic remarks at UNSC

TEHRAN – About ten hours after a UNSC session on Iran’s nuclear program concluded on Tuesday, as morning broke in Tehran, Iranian officials began to publicly react to remarks put forth by the U.S. during the meeting. Their reactions signaled that no one in Tehran trusts American pronouncements about diplomacy anymore.
Tehran sends sympathy message after fatal plane crash kills Libyan army chief

TEHRAN – Iran has extended its condolences to Libya following the death of the country’s army chief in a fatal plane crash near Ankara.

Sports

Persepolis edge Mes in 2025/26 PGPL

TEHRAN – Persepolis football team edged past relegation-threatened Mes 1-0 on Friday at the 2025/26 Iran’s Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL).
Iran to send four skiers to 2026 Winter Olympic Games

TEHRAN – Four skiers will represent Iran at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
Esteghlal into AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Round of 16

TEHRAN - Esteghlal made their way into the Round of 16 with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Al Muharraq in their final AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Group A tie on Wednesday.

Culture

Israeli forces injure Press TV correspondent during West Bank raid

TEHRAN- An attack by Israeli occupation forces on a Press TV correspondent in the besieged West Bank has left her injured, highlighting the regime's blatant disregard for the rights of journalists and the Palestinian people.
“The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender” at Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN- “The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender” by Canadian writer Leslye Walton has been published in Persian.
Fajr Anthem Festival kicks off in Tehran

TEHRAN- The 3rd edition of the Fajr National Anthem Festival opened in Tehran on Wednesday, featuring a several performances by selected groups of chorus singers.

Economy

Iran's export to Eurasia increases 16% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s export to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member countries rose 16 percent during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-October 22), as compared to the same period of time in the previous year, the acting secretary of the Secretariat of Iran’s Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union announced.
South Azadegan oil field’s production capacity hits 160,000 bpd

TEHRAN- The managing director of Petropars Group announced an increase in the operational capacity of the South Azadegan joint oil field to 160,000 barrels per day (bpd) and stated: “With the launch of the second train of the central processing unit and the gradual return of wells to the production stream, the trend of stable production in this field has accelerated.”
Iran exports non-oil goods worth $1.66b to Afghanistan in 8 months

TEHRAN- Iran exported non-oil commodities valued at $1.66 billion to Afghanistan during the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21), the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced.

Society

National document on women’s health declared

TEHRAN – President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared the national document on women’s health as a comprehensive and strategic initiative to enhance women’s physical, mental, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being.
INSF, RSF to support implementation of 15 joint research projects

TEHRAN – Iran and Russia will support the implementation of 15 out of 115 research projects proposed after the second joint call by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) and the Russian Science Foundation (RSF).
Iran, Armenia to expedite joint projects in health sector

TEHRAN – Iranian and Armenian officials have agreed to accelerate the implementation of joint projects in the health sector, particularly the registration of food, medicine, and medical equipment.

Tourism

Parthian art and architecture linked East and West across a vast empire

TEHRAN – For almost 500 years, the Parthian Empire controlled one of the world’s most important cultural and trade routes, stretching from Central Asia to the Mediterranean.
Iran-Kazakhstan cultural night held in Tehran to promote shared heritage

TEHRAN - Iran and Kazakhstan held a joint cultural night at Tehran’s Niavaran Palace complex on Monday to promote shared heritage and strengthen cultural diplomacy between the two Caspian Sea countries, officials said.
Iran, Tajikistan national museums plan joint exhibitions to expand cultural cooperation

TEHRAN — Officials from the National Museum of Iran and the National Museum of Tajikistan have agreed on plans to expand cultural cooperation and organize joint exhibitions during a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday.

International

Israel’s digital house of cards

TEHRAN – For decades, Israel has meticulously curated an image of itself as an impenetrable "cyber superpower," a high-tech "villa in the jungle" where the fabricated "start-up nation" myth provided a psychological shield for its settler population.
Gaza truce turns to strategic impasse

TEHRAN – The resistance in Gaza is fighting a battle guided by a logic of achievable deterrence.
Implications for Yemen’s prisoner exchange

BEIRUT—A historic breakthrough has emerged in Yemen’s humanitarian landscape with the signing of an agreement to release 1,700 prisoners from the army and popular committees in exchange for 1,200 detainees from the opposite side, including seven Saudis and 23 Sudanese.