Tehran Times

2025-07-08 22:08
By Soheila Zarfam

Germany’s ‘dirty work’ scandal

Petition calls for Merz to be held accountable over remarks on Israel’s war against Iran

TEHRAN – Controversy is still swirling around the German chancellor's remarks on the Iran-Israel war, with a rapidly growing online petition calling for Friedrich Merz to be held accountable in Germany's Federal Court after he stated that Israel was performing the West's "dirty work" by striking Iranian nuclear, military, and civilian infrastructure.
- Not yet taking the helm, Merz seeks to serve as subservient to Netanyahu
- Germany resurrects its darkest legacy by offering Israel absolute support

By Staff Writer

Media censorship in the name of sensitivity: BBC’s failure on Gaza coverage

TEHRAN- The recent decision by the BBC to pull several senior staff and issue a formal apology after airing Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury 2025 performance marks a troubling chapter in media censorship and the suppression of legitimate protest against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
By Xavier Villar

Pezeshkian defends Iranian sovereignty in a key interview with Tucker Carlson

MADRID – The online interview between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and American journalist Tucker Carlson in July 2025 goes far beyond a media spectacle. It becomes a political act of high symbolic voltage.
By Faramarz Kouhpayeh

AMIA case and the demand for a fair trial: a response to president Milei

TEHRAN – In response to the June 30, 2025 article titled “The AMIA case: When the roles of murderer and victim are reversed”, Argentine President Javier Milei took to the social media X to repost messages from two representatives of the families of AMIA bombing victims.
By Wesam Bahrani

Gaza turns into occupation's graveyard

TEHRAN – The Israeli occupation regime’s soldiers have been caught up in a sophisticated ambush described as one of the “deadliest” since October 7, 2023.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Concern over Barrack’s political storm: Will the trick of former US envoys be repeated?

BEIRUT — Observers took note of the unusually optimistic tone expressed by U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, particularly in light of the heightened rhetoric suggesting that Lebanon could face major escalation if it failed to comply with his proposal to disarm Hezbollah.

Politics

Iran, Qatar affirm commitment to defense ties following 12-day war

TEHRAN – In a high-level exchange, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, held a phone conversation with Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, solidifying bilateral strategic coordination in the wake of the Israeli regime’s 12-day aggression against Iran.
Iran says no talks scheduled with US

TEHRAN – Iran has flatly denied claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that nuclear negotiations are back on the table.
How Israeli air defense systems backfired

TEHRAN – A newly surfaced video has raised serious questions about the integrity of Israel’s air defense systems, suggesting that the recent strike on central Tel Aviv may not have been a technical failure, but an act of internal sabotage.

Sports

Iran’s women’s basketball need one step further

TEHRAN – Iran’s women’s basketball team will kick off the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 Division B on Sunday with a match against the Cook Islands. The team have gained valuable lessons from two years ago, when they failed to qualify for Division A.
Iran kick off AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 qualifier on high note

TEHRAN - Iran kicked off their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 Qualifiers Group A campaign with a 4-0 win against Singapore on Thursday.
Iran fall in FIFA rankings

TEHRAN – Iran moved down two spots in the latest FIFA world rankings published on Thursday.

Culture

Iranian short animated film “Travelous” wins at SFN Loutraki Animation Festival

TEHRAN – The Iranian short animation “Travelous” directed by Samira Hoseini won the top award at the 8th Short Film Night (SFN) Loutraki Animation Festival, which was held in Corinth, Greece, on July 6.
Autistic talents take center stage at Tehran’s Molavi Hall

TEHRAN – The play “The Actor of Shadows” will go on stage at Tehran’s Molavi Hall on Friday, featuring talented actors with autism and other special needs.
Arasbaran Cultural Center reviews “Thunderbolts”

TEHRAN – American director Jake Schreier’s 2025 movie “Thunderbolts” was screened during a session at the Arasbaran Cultural Center in Tehran on Wednesday.

Economy

Iran leads global oil output growth with 13% rise in 2024

TEHRAN – Iran recorded the highest increase in crude oil production among all countries in 2024, boosting its daily output by 374,000 barrels, while top producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia saw significant declines, according to the latest OPEC statistics.
CBI praised for ensuring economic security during 12-day conflict

TEHRAN – A senior member of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) said the rapid allocation of foreign currency for essential imports played a vital role in maintaining economic security during the recent 12-day conflict, praising the Central Bank of Iran (CBI)’s performance in stabilizing markets and preventing panic.
Iran exports non-oil goods worth $937m to Turkey in a quarter

TEHRAN- Iran exported non-oil commodities valued at $937 million to Turkey during the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-June 21), according to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).

Society

From smart agriculture to rescue operations: Iranian-made drones booming

TEHRAN – Over the past two decades, Iranian knowledge-based companies have made notable efforts and contributed significantly to designing, building, and utilizing various types of drones for civilian purposes, including smart agriculture, cargo transport, maritime missions, as well as rescue and relief operations.
Documented refugees have no problem attending Arbaeen pilgrimage

TEHRAN – Authorized foreign nationals and refugees residing in Iran will be able to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage without any problems, the deputy interior minister has said.
IEEE Iran section grabs outstanding Section Award

TEHRAN – The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEE) organization has designated the IEEE Iran section as the Outstanding Section Award 2025.

Tourism

Cultural heritage is a voice against hostile narratives, Iran tourism minister says

TEHRAN – In a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, along with his deputies, addressed the ministry’s role in shaping cultural resilience during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel.
Historic Persian-Georgian documents of Iran’s Afsharid era digitized with British Library support

TEHRAN - A significant cultural heritage preservation initiative has culminated in the digitization and cataloguing of rare Persian and Georgian-Persian historical documents from the Afshar period, preserved at the Korneli Kekelidze National Centre of Manuscripts in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Iran suggests China abolish visa requirements for its tourists in reciprocal move

TEHRAN – Iran has called on the Chinese government to lift visa requirements for Iranian nationals wishing to visit China, in a move aimed at deepening bilateral cultural and tourism ties.

International

Exclusive: Expert says Israel would have been destroyed had it attacked Iran without Western backing

TEHRAN - In an exclusive interview with Tehran Times, Dimitri Lascaris, a prominent Canadian lawyer, journalist, and human rights activist, offers a powerful critique of the recent Israeli and U.S. military strikes against Iran.
Gaza turns into occupation's graveyard

TEHRAN – The Israeli occupation regime’s soldiers have been caught up in a sophisticated ambush described as one of the “deadliest” since October 7, 2023.
Concern over Barrack’s political storm: Will the trick of former US envoys be repeated?

BEIRUT — Observers took note of the unusually optimistic tone expressed by U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, particularly in light of the heightened rhetoric suggesting that Lebanon could face major escalation if it failed to comply with his proposal to disarm Hezbollah.

Petition calls for Merz to be held accountable over remarks on Israel’s war against Iran