Tehran Times

2025-12-24 22:08
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.
- Iran summons E3 envoys over ‘provocative’ closed-door UN security council session
- West’s excessive demands blocked Iran’s diplomatic efforts: FM Araghchi

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 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.
‘Maritime piracy in Caribbean’, Iranian MPs condemn US military actions near Venezuela

TEHRAN – A group of 150 Iranian lawmakers has issued a strong condemnation of recent U.S. actions in the Caribbean, including the interception and pursuit of oil tankers, calling them acts of maritime piracy and a significant threat to regional stability.

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.
Pezeshkian stresses Caucasus strategy as he tasks new envoy with bolstering ties

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has highlighted the “strategic role” the Caucasus plays in new regional and international developments, while stressing the need for closer ties between Tehran and Tbilisi.

Sports

Late Saber Kazemi would have turned 27 today

TEHRAN – The late Iranian volleyball star Saber Kazemi would have celebrated his 27th birthday today.
World title is within reach: Mohammad Dastan

TEHRAN — Iran national beach soccer goalkeeper Mohammad Dastan believes the team have put their elimination from the 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup behind them and are now fully focused on achieving their long-standing dream of winning the world title.
Cyclist Partoazar aims for gold at 2026 Asian Games

TEHRAN – Iran’s most decorated female cyclist says the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya will mark the final chapter of her competitive career, as she plans to transition into a new role after the event.

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.
Resistance Theater Festival to honor Martyr Soleimani with selected street performances

TEHRAN- The 20th International Resistance Theater Festival will dedicate a special section to street theater works selected from its previous 19th edition, aiming to honor and support the participating groups.
Exploring Iran’s Christian past: a journey through Edik Baroni’s book

TEHRAN- Christianity has a long and intricate history in Iran, predating many other regions of the world. Iranian Christian communities have preserved their faith and cultural identity for centuries. Today, Iran hosts one of the oldest continuous Christian presences in West Asia, with Armenian, Assyrian, and other Christian minorities contributing significantly to Iran’s diverse religious landscape. Recognizing this rich heritage is essential to understanding Iran’s complex history and its multi-religious identity.

Economy

Iran exports non-oil goods worth $4.3b to Turkey in 8 month

TEHRAN- Iran exported non-oil commodities valued at $4.393 billion to Turkey during the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21), the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced.
Tehran, Astana seek to boost trade ties through logistics, regional cooperation

TEHRAN – Trade ties between Tehran and Astana are entering a more dynamic phase following the recent presidential visit to Kazakhstan, with both sides seeking to expand economic cooperation through logistics projects and regional partnerships, a senior trade official said.
South Korea funds $500,000 vocational training facilities in western Iran

TEHRAN – Two specialized vocational training workshops were opened and equipped in Iran’s western Kordestan province with $500,000 in funding from South Korea, state media reported on Tuesday.

Society

Japan interested in boosting environmental, pharmaceutical ties with Iran

TEHRAN – Japanese officials have announced their willingness to expand cooperation with Iran in areas that are not subject to sanctions, particularly the environment and pharmaceuticals.
125 Iranian journals indexed in global databases in 4 years

TEHRAN – Thanks to targeted planning and coordinated efforts, about 125 Iranian journals have been indexed by the reputable databases of Scopus and Web of Science over the past four years, an official with the Ministry of Science has said.
‘WHO is Iran’s strategic partner in health sector’

TEHRAN – The deputy health minister, Alireza Raeisi, has said the World Health Organization is a strategic partner and a norm-setting reference for the country's health sector.

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.
Gisoom seeks UN Tourism label for Best Tourism Villages

TEHRAN — Iran’s Gilan provincial department of cultural heritage said it is preparing a bid to have the village of Gisoom included on UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages list.

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.
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.
Gaza truce turns to strategic impasse

TEHRAN – The resistance in Gaza is fighting a battle guided by a logic of achievable deterrence.

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

Why the cyber superpower myth is failing