Tehran Times

2025-12-08 20:30
By Shahrokh Saei

Syria one year after Assad: Jolani’s makeover, minority panic, and Israeli strikes

TEHRAN – On December 8, 2024, Syria entered a new phase when Damascus fell, and the Ba'ath Party’s long rule ended. Bashar al-Assad departed for Russia, where he was granted asylum. For many Syrians, Assad’s exit was neither a moment of triumph nor defeat, but the beginning of a new uncertainty. The vacuum left behind opened the door for forces both domestic and foreign to shape Syria’s trajectory.

By Garsha Vazirian

The tail that trained the dog to heel

From Pollard’s tea party to hidden microphones in Gaza “aid” center—same leash, same blood

TEHRAN – They built the room together. America paid for the walls, the fake grass carpet, and the giant posters of Trump’s twenty-point plan. America flew in the logisticians who know how to move rice through war zones. America even invited a few Dutch and Emirati officers to keep up the pretense of multilateralism.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Lebanon faces a choice between real power and foreign illusions

BEIRUT—Lebanon’s political and security landscape has long been defined by a paradox: the nation’s true defenders often operate outside formal institutions, while the official state struggles to assert authority, maintain sovereignty, or protect its people.
By Wesam Bahrani

Behind Israel’s high Gaza casualties

TEHRAN – The Israeli regime’s mounting wartime casualties expose a grinding battle shaped by resilient Palestinian factions and shifting battle dynamics.
Tehran and Baku must guard partnership against external interference: Araghchi

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his visit to Baku came at a “highly timely” moment for reassessing relations between the two neighboring countries, stressing that Tehran and Baku should not allow external actors to disrupt or redirect their partnership.
Tehran hosts meeting of African envoys to boost science, health cooperation

TEHRAN – Iranian officials and the ambassadors of 19 African countries to Tehran have discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of science, education, research, and health.

Politics

Another group of Iranian inmates freed in US head home

Another batch of Iranian nationals freed from detention in the United States have left the Mesa Gateway Airport in the state of Arizona to return their homeland, said head of the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, D.C., Abolfazl Mehrabadi.
Geopolitical opportunities for Iran in light of West’s structural challenges

The contemporary world is undergoing a transition from a unipolar order toward a multi-centered one—an order in which power is distributed among numerous actors, and the ability of states to influence global affairs increasingly depends on their geopolitical capacities, deterrent power, strategic independence, and their capability to shape their regional environment.
Iran’s Border Guard chief in Pakistan for talks on border security

TEHRAN – Head of Iran’s Border Guard Command Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks on boosting border cooperation and maritime security issues and to participate in an international drill as an observer.

Sports

Iran line up Portugal for 2026 World Cup prep

TEHRAN - The president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), Mehdi Taj, has announced that Iran national football team — “Team Melli” — are close to finalizing a high-profile warm-up friendly against Portugal national football team on May 27.
Mojtaba Jabbari takes charge of Mes Rafsanjan: PGPL

TEHRAN - Former Esteghlal football team head coach Mojtaba Jabbari was named new head coach of Iranian top-flight club Mes Rafsanjan.
Iran fall short to Uruguay at 2025 President’s Cup

TEHRAN - Uruguay, who play their sixth World Championship, defeated Iran 27-16 at the 2025 President's Cup Group I on Monday.

Culture

"The Last Lullaby" honors martyred children of 12-day war during Hamedan theater festival

TEHRAN- During the 30th edition of Iran’s International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults, which is currently underway in Hamedan, the performance titled "The Last Lullaby" took the audience on an emotional journey through the stories of children martyred in the 12-day war, featuring a collection of over 100 handcrafted puppets.
Iranian documentary “Forgotten” competing in 10th Planeta.Doc

TEHRAN – The Iranian documentary “Forgotten” directed by Saied Nabi and Maryam Khadivi is competing in the 10th International Festival of Socio-Environmental Cinema Planeta.Doc, which is underway in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
IAF to show Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice”

TEHRAN – The 2025 South Korean satirical black comedy thriller film “No Other Choice” co-written, produced, and directed by Park Chan-wook will be screened at the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) in Tehran on Thursday.

Economy

Iran, Belarus hold 18th Joint Economic committee meeting in Tehran

TEHRAN – The eighteenth session of the Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Committee meeting convened in Tehran, bringing together senior ministers, business representatives and experts from both countries to outline a new phase of commercial, industrial and scientific collaboration.
Tehran to host 4th Eurasia trade exhibition in February 2026

TEHRAN – Iran will host the fourth Eurasia International Trade Exhibition from February 1 to 4, 2026, an event that officials say is designed to maximize the benefits of the free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and draw strong participation from member states’ delegations and private-sector representatives.
Semi-finished steel production up 4.7% in 7 months on year

TEHRAN- The production of semi-finished steel in Iran rose 4.7 percent in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (September 23-October 22), as compared to the same period of time in the past year, the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA) announced.

Society

Tehran hosting meeting of BRICS working group on research infrastructures, mega-science projects

TEHRAN – The 7th meeting of the BRICS working group on research infrastructures and mega-science projects is being held from December 8 to 10 in Tehran.
FAO explores areas of collaboration on fisheries and aquaculture in Isfahan

TEHRAN – A delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) paid a visit to a fish farm in Isfahan Province, exploring ways to enhance collaboration and improve productivity in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Iranian universities advance in GreenMetric World Ranking

TEHRAN – A total of 44 Iranian universities are featured on the 15th edition of the GreenMetric World University Ranking 2025, up from 40 universities in 2024.

Tourism

Sa’dabad director outlines major restoration, conservation push at former royal complex in Tehran

TEHRAN – The director of the Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex says the former royal residence in northern Tehran has accelerated restoration and conservation work, completing a long-delayed digital inventory of its holdings while advancing new projects to safeguard thousands of stored objects.
Iran, Armenia to form joint working commission to ease border travel

TEHRAN - Iran and Armenia have agreed to establish a joint working commission to address land border issues and facilitate tourist movement between the two neighboring countries.
1000-year-old minaret of Semnan mosque to be honored in Special ceremony

TEHRAN--A ceremony to commemorate the millennium of minaret of Semnan Jameh Mosque will be held on Wednesday with the aim of transforming this heritage site into a historical and cultural brand of the city.

International

The tail that trained the dog to heel

TEHRAN – They built the room together. America paid for the walls, the fake grass carpet, and the giant posters of Trump’s twenty-point plan. America flew in the logisticians who know how to move rice through war zones. America even invited a few Dutch and Emirati officers to keep up the pretense of multilateralism.
Lebanon faces a choice between real power and foreign illusions

BEIRUT—Lebanon’s political and security landscape has long been defined by a paradox: the nation’s true defenders often operate outside formal institutions, while the official state struggles to assert authority, maintain sovereignty, or protect its people.
Syria one year after Assad: Jolani’s makeover, minority panic, and Israeli strikes

TEHRAN – On December 8, 2024, Syria entered a new phase when Damascus fell, and the Ba'ath Party’s long rule ended. Bashar al-Assad departed for Russia, where he was granted asylum. For many Syrians, Assad’s exit was neither a moment of triumph nor defeat, but the beginning of a new uncertainty. The vacuum left behind opened the door for forces both domestic and foreign to shape Syria’s trajectory.

From Pollard’s tea party to hidden microphones in Gaza “aid” center—same leash, same blood