Tehran Times

2025-12-27 21:42
By Mona Hojat Ansari

‘We're now stronger than the 12-day war’

President rolls out plans for economic management, makes no mention of potential US talks

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian did not appear particularly fixated on the prospects of a new deal with the U.S. when he sat down with Khamenei.ir, a website overseen by the Leader's office, and discussed two issues most pressing for the Iranian people: whether Tehran can fend off a second potential war with Israel, and what can be done to control runaway inflation, which has worsened in the backwash of the war Israel and the U.S. launched against Iran in June.
- Pezeshkian emphasizes unity through adherence to Leader’s policies
- Pezeshkian says 'Iran will not kneel'

By Somaye Morovati

Strategic significance of Bin Zayed’s visit to Pakistan

TEHRAN - The official visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on December 26, 2025, may at first glance be interpreted as a ceremonial bilateral engagement between two countries bound by longstanding and “brotherly” relations.
By Shahrokh Saei

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland: Power play or Gaza expulsion plot?

TEHRAN – Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has triggered fierce backlash across Africa, the Arab world, and beyond. At the same time, the move has brought Israel’s underlying motives into sharper focus, raising questions about regional security, international law, and the fate of Palestinians in Gaza.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Gradual erosion of Christian presence in post-war Syria

BEIRUT—In the aftermath of Syria’s prolonged conflict, the question facing the country’s Christian communities is no longer one of political alignment, but of survival itself.
By Sasa Milivojev

Gaza genocide and collapse of human conscience

Shame on silence, cowardice and betrayal of humanity

History will record this moment not as a triumph of civilization, but as its absolute moral collapse. In Gaza, more than 70,000 innocent human beings—the overwhelming majority women, mothers, pregnant women, and children—have been systematically annihilated. Their crime? Being born Palestinian. Their punishment? Death under rubble, starvation, and fire. And the world, with all its institutions, governments, and self-proclaimed guardians of humanity, stood by in silence.

Politics

Former Iranian FM says Israel drives U.S. policy, calls Netanyahu main obstacle to peace

TEHRAN – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Israel exerts decisive influence over U.S. policy and remains the main source of instability in the region, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the biggest obstacle to peace.
Iran to host trilateral naval exercise, says navy commander

TEHRAN – Iran will host a trilateral naval exercise in the near future, with plans to expand participation to additional countries, the commander of the Iranian Army Navy said on Friday.

Sports

Bronze 'greater than gold' for Team Melli: FIBA

TEHRAN – For Iran national basketball team wining a bronze medal was 'greater than gold' in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
Sepahan’s late win over Chadormalou sends them top of PGPL

TEHRAN – Enzo Crivelli’s dramatic 95th-minute goal lifted Sepahan to the top of the 2025/26 Iran Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL) table on Saturday.
Karim Bagheri proud to be a member of Persepolis

TEHRAN – Iran’s legendary midfielder Karim Bagheri says Persepolis are the only club he has ever truly loved in Iranian football.

Culture

Book on survivors’ accounts of 2015 massacre of Shiites in Nigeria available in Persian

TEHRAN – The Persian translation of the book “December 2015 Massacre of Shiites in Nigeria: Survivors' Accounts” written by Ibrahim Musa has been released in Iran.
Renowned actress Shirin Yazdanbakhsh passes away at 76

TEHRAN- Renowned film actress and theater enthusiast Shirin Yazdanbakhsh passed away in a Tehran hospital on Thursday, due to complications from a brain stroke she had suffered several months prior. She was 76.
What’s in Tehran art galleries

A collection of paintings by Mohammad Khalili is currently on display in an exhibit at Binesh Gallery. Named “The Third Fact”, the exhibition runs until January 3, 2026 at the gallery located at 22 Khakzad Alley, Vali-e Asr Ave.

Economy

PMO signs $400m deals with private sector, minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) has signed new contracts and memoranda of understanding with the private sector worth more than 200 trillion rials ($400 million), the minister of Transport and Urban Development said.
Iran, Azerbaijan agree to boost truck traffic at Astara border

TEHRAN – Iran and Azerbaijan have agreed to increase daily truck movements at the Astara border crossing to between 350 and 400 vehicles, aiming to ease congestion and facilitate exports and transit flows, Iranian officials said.
Foreign minister urges export reforms at Isfahan business forum

TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign minister called for removing domestic barriers to exports and improving trade infrastructure at a meeting with private sector representatives in Isfahan, highlighting the province’s economic capacity as a driver of the country’s economic diplomacy.

Society

Smart e-health using AI aims to transform healthcare system

TEHRAN – The health ministry has developed eight projects with a focus on smart e-health using artificial intelligence to realize the healthcare system transformation goal.
12 countries attend Intl. Conference on Signal Processing, Intelligent Systems

TEHRAN – Researchers from Iran and 12 foreign countries, namely Spain, Italy, Iceland, Australia, Mexico, China, India, England, Algeria, Denmark, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, participated in the 11th International Conference on Signal Processing and Intelligent Systems (ICSPIS 2025).
Iran launches first biometric system check for Afghan refugees

TEHRAN – Iran has implemented the first biometric system check for identity verification of foreign nationals, especially Afghan refugees, at the Dogharon border terminal in the city of Taibad, northeastern Khorasan Razavi province.

Tourism

Tehran exemplifies peaceful coexistence among religions, governor-general says

TEHRAN – On the eve of the Christian New Year, Tehran Governor-General Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian visited a church in the capital, praising Iran -- and Tehran in particular -- as a model of peaceful coexistence among different religions.
CCTV journalist highlights Khuzestan’s cultural heritage

TEHRAN – A Chinese journalist has said Iran’s southwestern province of Khuzestan has strong appeal for international audiences, citing its rich cultural heritage and diversity.
Preserving Jiroft site vital to Iran’s civilizational identity

TEHRAN – Efforts to safeguard and preserve the archaeological site of Jiroft in Kerman province are essential to protecting Iran’s civilizational identity, said Morteza Nikrou, head of the Kerman Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department.

International

Strategic significance of Bin Zayed’s visit to Pakistan

TEHRAN - The official visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on December 26, 2025, may at first glance be interpreted as a ceremonial bilateral engagement between two countries bound by longstanding and “brotherly” relations.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland: Power play or Gaza expulsion plot?

TEHRAN – Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has triggered fierce backlash across Africa, the Arab world, and beyond. At the same time, the move has brought Israel’s underlying motives into sharper focus, raising questions about regional security, international law, and the fate of Palestinians in Gaza.
Gradual erosion of Christian presence in post-war Syria

BEIRUT—In the aftermath of Syria’s prolonged conflict, the question facing the country’s Christian communities is no longer one of political alignment, but of survival itself.

President rolls out plans for economic management, makes no mention of potential US talks

Shame on silence, cowardice and betrayal of humanity