Iran wheelchair basketball team drawn in Group of Death: Tokyo 2020

TEHRAN – Iran have been drawn in Group of Death in the men’s wheelchair basketball tournament at Tokyo 2020.

Leader: Future administration must be optimistic, capable and faithful

TEHRAN—Addressing students virtually on Tuesday, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised the nation to participate in the June presidential elections enthusiastically to boost confidence of the next administration.

Grand Ayatollahs issue statements strongly condemning terrorist attack at Kabul school

TEHRAN - Now that Kabul is mourning its innocent young girls a number of Iranian grand ayatollahs have issued separate statements expressing their disgust over the May 9 horrific terrorist activity in western Kabul.

IAEA: Iran's enriched uranium is up to 63%

TEHRAN—The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Tuesday that the uranium samples they have received from the Natanz nuclear site was enriched to up to 63%.

Leader condemns acts of aggression in Afghanistan, Palestine

TEHRAN— In a virtual speech with the students late on Tuesday, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution condemned acts of aggression in Kabul and Jerusalem, stating that Israel only understands the language of force.

Iran rejects Pentagon’s claim, denounces U.S. ‘unprofessional’ behavior in Hormuz

TEHRAN - The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy has reacted to a claim by the Pentagon that the IRGC speedboats unprofessionally came close to an American vessel.

Hopefuls start registering for president

TEHRAN— Mohammad Hassan Nami, Saeed Mohammad, and General Hossein Dehghan were among the first figures who went to the Ministry of Interior to register as presidential hopefuls.

Zarif: Referendum only solution to Palestine issue

TEHRAN — In a tweet on Tuesday afternoon, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned the brutal act of aggression by the Israeli regime against the Palestinians, reiterating Tehran’s long-held principled position that only a referendum can solve the complicated decades-long Palestinian issues.

Iran: Tehran-Riyadh dialogue conducted by special envoys

TEHRAN— Speaking at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said that special envoys for the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia are conducting negotiations, adding the talks will continue until they reach a conclusion.

53 Democratic leaders tell Biden to lift Iran sanctions

TEHRAN - Fifty-three Democratic Party leaders have sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Pakistan FM lauds moves by Iran, Saudi Arabia to reduce tensions

TEHRAN – Pakistan’s foreign minister on Tuesday praised the de-escalation process between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Moveable properties in Qom made national heritage

TEHRAN –A total of 10 historical moveable properties in Qom province, have recently been inscribed on the national heritage list.

Qajar-era Hosseiniyeh undergoes restoration

TEHRAN –Parts of the Qajar-era (1789-1925) Aminiha Hosseiniyeh in the northwestern province of Qazvin has undergone restoration, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said. 

Bibi’s big mistake: Fall of fake regime?

TEHRAN — With Benjamin Netanyahu losing the battle to the Knesset, “the army that will never taste victory” is on its path to losing yet another battle to the Palestinians in al-Quds. The main question however is why now?

Millennia-old tomb, relics unearthed in southwestern Iran

TEHRAN –An ancient tomb in Chitab, southwestern Kohgiluyeh, and Boyer-Ahmad province has been discovered accidentally by local farmers.

“Why Read Hannah Arendt Now?” at Iranian bookstores

TEHRAN – American philosopher Richard Jacob Bernstein’s book “Why Read Hannah Arendt Now?” has recently been published in Persian in Tehran.

Iranian producer Elaheh Nobakht on panel of MENA Film Festival

TEHRAN – Iranian producer Elaheh Nobakht has been selected as a member of the jury for the 4th Mena Film Festival The Hague, which will take place in the Dutch city from May 20 to 23.

Iran to commemorate Persian poet Ferdowsi, Khayyam in virtual celebrations

TEHRAN – The director of the Khorasan Ravazi Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance has announced that the annual national celebrations and meetings to observe Ferdowsi Day and Khayyam Day will be held online due to the pandemic.

“From Karkheh to Rhein” makeup artist Masud Valadbeigi dies at 86 

TEHRAN – Makeup artist Masud Valadbeigi, whose collaboration in “From Karkheh to Rhein” and several other movies earned him wide acclaim, died of heart failure at Tehran’s Mehrad Hospital on Tuesday. He was 86.

ECO, Sadi Foundation to organize intl. webinar on Persian literature 

TEHRAN – The ECO Cultural Institute and Sadi Foundation in Tehran plan to organize an international webinar on the promotion of Persian literature on May 15.

Moscow State Museum of Oriental Art spotlights Qajar art

TEHRAN – An exhibition opening on May 15 at the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow will showcase a collection of artworks created during the Qajar dynasty that ruled in Iran from 1789 to 1925.   

Director Majid Majidi criticizes global silence over Afghanistan school attack

TEHRAN - Oscar-nominated Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi has criticized the world for not speaking out against the Saturday bomb attack outside a school in the Afghan capital of Kabul that claimed the lives of over 60 people including schoolgirls.

Amazing Kang is where the roof of one house is the yard of another

The hill-stepped village of Kang is a heaven for photographers and travels who seek off-the-beaten tracks.

UNESCO to assess Hamedan caravanserais for World Heritage

TEHRAN – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is set to assess two historical caravanserais, which are located in the west-central province of Hamedan, for inclusion in the World Heritage list.

By Farrokh Hesabi

Esteghlal, Persepolis in potential title decider

TEHRAN - In one of the long-awaited encounters in Iranian football, Persepolis will lock horn against Esteghlal in the Iran Professional League (IPL) at the Azadi Stadium on Friday in Tehran.

Akbarian to officiate Tehran derby

TEHRAN – Mohammadreza Akbarian will take charge Esteghlal and Persepolis clash in Tehran derby.

Tehran, Yerevan discuss ways to deepen tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Yerevan’s ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian on Monday discussed ways to deepen ties in the realms of tourism and cultural heritage.

Archaeologists resume work on Sassanid site of Vigol

TEHRAN – The ancient site Vigol in central Iran, which had previously yielded a Sassanid-era fire temple, is being excavated for the second time by archaeologists.

Blood donation up 27% during Qadr nights

TEHRAN – Iranian people donated 141,148 units of blood during Qadr nights - the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of the holy month of Ramadan fall on May 13th, 15th, and 17th this year – an increase of 27 percent year on year.