Tehran Times

2026-10-20 21:44
Brother Munir! The Ball Is in the US Court

Pakistan's army chief came to Tehran to break the deadlock, but the US has repeatedly derailed mediation with fantasies like Iran's surrender

TEHRAN – Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for consultations with Iranian officials. It is General Munir's fifth visit to Tehran since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28.
- Iran quagmire: Trump’s failed strategy and its heavy cost

VP urges SCO to strengthen economic integration, independent financial mechanisms

TEHRAN — Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has called on members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to turn their economic potential into concrete joint projects, accelerate the establishment of an SCO Development Bank and expand cooperation in trade, energy, transportation and digital technology.
Iran says will respond proportionately to any aggression

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has warned that any renewed aggression against Iran will be met with a response proportionate to the attack, stressing that Tehran is prepared to defend the country under all circumstances.
By Afshin Majlesi

Iran and Uzbekistan: Where shared history comes alive in Tashkent

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - As an Iranian journalist visiting Tashkent, I found myself looking at the huge Islamic Civilization Center from two perspectives. I was a visitor discovering the depth of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. I was also an Iranian looking for familiar traces of a civilization that has never respected the borders drawn on today’s maps.
By staff writer

Trump approval crashes to record low 31% as Iran war backlash mounts

TEHRAN — American voters are turning decisively against President Donald Trump on the eve of the November 3 midterm elections, pushing his approval rating down to 31 percent in a nationwide Reuters/Ipsos survey published on Tuesday, October 20. The figure marks the lowest point across both of his presidential terms.
By Ali Minabi

Gaza’s battle for hearts and minds

TEHRAN – More than three years after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the Palestinian cause has seen internal and external shifts.

Politics

Iran urges Int'l legal bodies to act over attack on Dena destroyer

TEHRAN — Iranian Army Deputy Coordinator Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has called on international legal bodies to fulfill their responsibilities regarding the attack on the Iranian destroyer Dena, stressing that the vessel had been deployed to India to convey a message of peace and friendship and carry out training missions.
Pakistan to continue mediation between Iran and US, Dar says

TEHRAN– Pakistan will continue its diplomatic efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday, reaffirming Islamabad’s support for dialogue and a peaceful resolution of regional disputes.
Mohajerani: Iran’s history of resistance reflects nation’s resolve to defend its sovereignty

TEHRAN – Iranian Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani has praised the Iranian nation’s determination and ability to withstand external aggression, saying past wars demonstrate the country’s resolve to safeguard its independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Sports

Nagoya 2026: Navaei takes gold in Judo

TEHRAN - Ali Navaei won the first gold medal in judo at the Nagoya Asian Para Games by defeating Uzbekistan’s Islomjon Tukhtaboev.
Haghshenas grabs Iran’s second gold in para taekwondo: 2026 Nagoya

TEHRAN - Hamed Haghshenas won the gold medal in the 2026 Asian Para Games by defeating Uzbekistan’s Umarjon Muydinov on Wednesday.
Iran’s para taekwondo athlete Bakht wins gold

TEHRAN - Alireza Bakht won the gold medal in para taekwondo of the 2026 Asian Para Games on Wednesday.

Culture

Mehr Media Group delegation visits Armenpress, discusses expanding media cooperation

TEHRAN – A delegation from the Mehr Media Group held talks with the management of the Armenpress news agency in Armenia regarding the expansion of media cooperation and the development of joint productions.
TMoCA website displays 1,000 artworks

TEHRAN – The head of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMoCA) has announced that it is now possible to view the museum’s collection online.
“Gaza Girl” short film takes anti-war message to festivals in France, US

TEHRAN- Iranian short film “Gaza Girl,” written and directed by Hossein Babaeian, was screened at the 13th Hendaia Film Festival in France and is set to participate in the Authentic Global Films festival in the United States in November, continuing its international festival run.

Economy

National Export Day ceremony held with President Pezeshkian in attendance

TEHRAN- The National Export Day ceremony was held on Wednesday morning, October 21, at the Summit Hall, with the attendance of President Masoud Pezeshkian; Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi; Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Seyed Mohammad Atabak; Head of the Trade Promotion Organization Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi; Head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture Samad Hassanzadeh; those active in the field of foreign trade, and related experts, to honor national exemplary exporters.
Co-op MOU signed between Chambers of Commerce of Mashhad, Dushanbe

TEHRAN- During the trip of the Governor of Khorasan Razavi Province and his accompanying delegation to Tajikistan, a cooperation memorandum was signed between the Chambers of Commerce of Mashhad and Dushanbe with the aim of developing trade interactions and facilitating the activities of traders and businessmen of the two countries.
‘Developing trade relations with Africa requires results-oriented economic diplomacy’

TEHRAN- The Advisor to the President for Economic Cooperation, referring to the importance of coordination among government institutions, the private sector, and academic centers, said: “Developing trade relations with Africa requires moving from preliminary and ceremonial talks toward results-oriented economic diplomacy.”

Society

Iran joins countries with advanced quantum training laboratories

TEHRAN – Iran has joined countries with advanced laboratories for hands-on training in quantum technologies with the inauguration of three specialized facilities in quantum optics and quantum information, established with support from the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy.
FAO to strengthen pest management, protect production in Kerman date palm groves

TEHRAN – A delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has visited date palm groves in Kerman Province to strengthen the management of pests and diseases through technical cooperation, field-based interventions and engagement with national and provincial stakeholders.
WHO delivers 10,000 cholera rapid diagnostic tests to Iran with CERF support

TEHRAN – The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), has delivered 10,000 cholera rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education to strengthen early detection and help prevent potential outbreaks.

Tourism

Samarkand summit calls for greater investment in children’s well-being

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan - Hundreds of policymakers, international officials and child welfare advocates gathered in the historic Uzbek city of Samarkand on Wednesday for a global summit aimed at making children’s health, education and protection a greater priority for governments.
National Museum of Iran pays tribute to renowned archaeologist Yousef Majidzadeh

TEHRAN - The National Museum of Iran has expressed its profound sorrow at the passing of Yousef Majidzadeh, one of Iran’s most distinguished archaeologists, whose research made significant contributions to the study of the country’s prehistoric cultures and early civilizations. Majidzadeh died in France on October 19, 2026, at the age of 90.
Iran and Uzbekistan: Where shared history comes alive in Tashkent

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - As an Iranian journalist visiting Tashkent, I found myself looking at the huge Islamic Civilization Center from two perspectives. I was a visitor discovering the depth of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. I was also an Iranian looking for familiar traces of a civilization that has never respected the borders drawn on today’s maps.

International

Trump approval crashes to record low 31% as Iran war backlash mounts

TEHRAN — American voters are turning decisively against President Donald Trump on the eve of the November 3 midterm elections, pushing his approval rating down to 31 percent in a nationwide Reuters/Ipsos survey published on Tuesday, October 20. The figure marks the lowest point across both of his presidential terms.
Gaza’s battle for hearts and minds

TEHRAN – More than three years after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the Palestinian cause has seen internal and external shifts.
NAZA: When technology makes killing a calculation

GOA, India – There are films that recount the horrors of war, films that make audiences feel the pain of those who endure it, and films that take us somewhere far more disturbing: into the machinery that makes such horrors possible. NAZA, the documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, belongs to this third category. It asks us to look beyond the images of destruction that have become tragically familiar from Gaza and confront the systems, institutional cultures and technological processes through which the destruction of human life can be organised, assessed and justified.

Pakistan's army chief came to Tehran to break the deadlock, but the US has repeatedly derailed mediation with fantasies like Iran's surrender