Tehran Times

2026-01-30 21:03
By Saleh Abidi Maleki

‘Iran as ready for diplomacy as it is for war’

In Ankara, Araghchi restates Tehran’s long-held position as neighbors call on Washington to halt escalation against Iran

TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in the Turkish capital on Friday with a message for Washington that was as firm as it was measured: Tehran remains open to a diplomatic resolution regarding its nuclear program, but it will not negotiate under duress, nor will it hesitate to engage in total war if the United States miscalculates again.
- Diplomacy and threats are incompatible, Iran tells US
- Resolve issues with Iran one by one, Turkish FM tells US

U.S. seeks an Iran that is subservient, says Chinese expert

Hongda Fan warns U.S. and Israeli interference could reshape regional alliances and intensify security rivalries

TEHRAN-Amid renewed unrest in Iran and escalating rhetoric from Washington and Tel Aviv, questions are mounting over whether Western claims of supporting civil liberties mask deeper geopolitical objectives. To explore these dynamics, Tehran Times spoke with Professor Hongda Fan, a prominent Chinese scholar of Middle East affairs.
By Soheila Zarfam

US plan: ‘Make Iran Texas again’

Senator Cruz wants to bring Texas-style weaponization to Iran, openly stating that Washington must arm terrorists

TEHRAN – Ted Cruz, the U.S. senator from Texas, has a reputation for rhetoric that often outpaces his grasp of its consequences. He was a central figure whose remarks fuelled the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and he remains infamous among his constituents for fleeing to Cancun during a deadly winter storm that crippled the state’s power grid. On the world stage, he is a reliable advocate for American military intervention, from West Asia to South America.
By Wesam Bahrani

Trump’s threats against Iraq could backfire

TEHRAN – The U.S. president’s aggressive rhetoric about Iraq’s political future may ultimately produce the opposite of its intended effect.
By staff writer

Israel’s admission of Gaza death toll shatters its own denial

TEHRAN — A quiet admission from a senior Israeli military official has opened a door Israel has tried to keep shut for two years. By acknowledging that around 71,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the official effectively confirmed what the Gaza Health Ministry has been reporting since the start of the war.
By Xavier Villar

From ICE to Iran: Power without symmetry

MADRID - Thomas Friedman’s recent column in The New York Times, in which he equated the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with Hamas, falls into an analytical simplification that ultimately obscures more than it clarifies.

Politics

Diplomacy and threats are incompatible, Iran tells US

TEHRAN - Talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said diplomacy will fail to prove “effective” or “produce results” through military threats.
Iran’s Larijani, Qatar PM share views on regional developments

TEHRAN – Qatar’s prime minister on Wednesday telephoned Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to share views about the latest developments in the region.
Resolve issues with Iran one by one, Turkish FM tells US

TEHRAN – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday called on the United States to resolve its problems with Iran one by one.

Sports

Iran defeat Saudi Arabia in 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup

TEHRAN - Iran survived a stern test to defeat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 Group D tie on Friday.
Female taekwondo athlete Kiani sidelined for six weeks

TEHRAN – Iranian female taekwondo athlete Nahid Kiani underwent knee surgery on Thursday.
Jalal Omidian named Zob Ahan coach: PGPL

TEHRAN – Zob Ahan Football Club have parted ways with head coach Ghasem Haddadifar following a series of poor results in the 2025/26 Iran Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL).

Culture

16th Ammar Popular Film Festival concludes in Tehran

TEHRAN – The 16th Ammar Popular Film Festival concluded on the evening of Thursday, January 29, in Tehran.
Iranian artist pens truth on Venezuela's front page

TEHRAN- An Iranian artist has articulated the nation's perspective on recent developments through the platform of a major Venezuelan publication.
Book exhibition at Kanoon displaying 300 titles by Iranian expats

TEHRAN – A book exhibition titled “Tak Khal” (literally meaning Ace), featuring 300 published works by Iranian expats in various languages, is underway at the Reference Library of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon), in Tehran.

Economy

Iran’s non-oil trade tops $94b in 10 months

TEHRAN – Iran’s total non-oil trade reached $94.123 billion in the first 10 months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2025-January 20, 2026), the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said.
Private sector seen doubling exports to Eurasian markets

TEHRAN – Iran’s private sector and traders have the capacity to double exports to some member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, a senior trade official said.
New Iranian vessel to be unveiled in Caspian Sea, co-op with Russia planned in 200 petchem projects

TEHRAN – Iran will unveil a new vessel in the Caspian Sea next week as part of efforts to expand cargo transport capacity, particularly container shipping, Iran’s ambassador to Russia said.

Society

Officials discuss promoting knowledge-based products in food, medicine sectors

TEHRAN – The headquarters for developing food and agricultural knowledge-based economy and the headquarters for developing traditional medicine and medicinal herbs have discussed ways to expedite the commercialization of knowledge-based products.
Iranian scholars win COMSTECH award 2025

TEHRAN –Two Iranian scholars have won Life-time Contribution Award of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC-COMSTECH) in Biology and Chemistry for their outstanding achievements in science and technology.
A miracle for a migratory bird: Steppe Eagle from Kazakhstan released after being treated in Iran

TEHRAN – A migratory Steppe eagle from Kazakhstan that had lost its strength due to parasitic and skin diseases was released into the wild after receiving complete treatment at the provincial Department of Environment (DOE) in Izeh, a city in the south-western province of Khuzestan, and regaining the ability to fly.

Tourism

Urgent repairs ordered after water leak damages Isfahan’s UNESCO-listed mosque

TEHRAN – Cultural heritage authorities have launched emergency measures to contain water leakage and ground subsidence at the UNESCO-listed Jameh Mosque of Isfahan after moisture and cracks were detected near its centuries-old Nezam al-Molk dome.
Lawmaker criticizes neglect of Khuzestan’s ‘golden triangle’ of tourism

TEHRAN - A senior Iranian lawmaker on Thursday criticized what he called the neglect of Khuzestan province’s key tourism assets, saying inadequate funding has prevented development of the historical cities of Dezful, Susa and Shushtar.
Tabriz can be starting point for tourism cooperation between Iran, Turkey, consultant says

TEHRAN—Orhan Baki, the consultant of the Turkish tourism, commerce and trade company Sulduz considered Tabriz, the capital city of Iran’s East Azarbaijan province, one of the effective destinations for starting joint tourism cooperation between the two countries.

International

China leads the agenda: Xi–Starmer talks highlight the limits of US unilateralism

TEHRAN — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China has highlighted a broader shift in global diplomacy, showcasing the contrast between nations willing to engage Beijing and the unilateral approach pursued by US President Donald Trump.
Trump’s threats against Iraq could backfire

TEHRAN – The U.S. president’s aggressive rhetoric about Iraq’s political future may ultimately produce the opposite of its intended effect.
Israel’s admission of Gaza death toll shatters its own denial

TEHRAN — A quiet admission from a senior Israeli military official has opened a door Israel has tried to keep shut for two years. By acknowledging that around 71,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the official effectively confirmed what the Gaza Health Ministry has been reporting since the start of the war.