Protestors urge release of Iranian journo from U.S. jail

TEHRAN – Iranian protesters on Sunday rallied outside the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents American interests, to condemn the detention in Washington of Press TV journalist and news presenter Marzieh Hashemi.

Rivals launch political marathon in Afghanistan

A confident and relaxed President Ashraf Ghani launched his reelection campaign Sunday, registering as a candidate at the national election commission and then delivering a lengthy speech on peace, poverty and the need for a strong government to unite all Afghans and end 17 years of insurgent conflict in a “just and honorable” way.

By Farzad Farhadi 

Tiger’s claws in terrorists’ nest; the battle of north Syria is coming soon

TEHRAN - The Syrian army succeeded in striking a blow at the Takfiri group in their occupied territories and did away with the ISIS. Now, it is time to get rid of other terrorists, including Al-Nusra Front or Jabhat al-Nusra in the province of Idlib in northern Syria as the Syrian Armed Forces are seeking to wrap up the terrorist's chapter in Syria.

By Javad Heirannia

Religion is not in conflict with IR theory: Prof.Askari

TEHRAN – Professor Hossein Askari, an expert on Saudi Arabia who also teaches international business at the George Washington University, believes that “I agree wholeheartedly that religion is not in conflict with international relations theory.”

By Sondoss Al Asaad

Why Marzieh Hashemi?

BEIRUT - Marzieh Hashemi, aka Melanie Franklin, is a veteran American-African journalist who has converted to Islam, in the wake of the 1979's Islamic revolution and has worked as a journalist in the Islamic Republic of Iran, since 2008.

By Mohammad Homaiefar

Khashoggi, Bin Salman’s nightmare

TEHRAN - While the Khashoggi case has recently subsided in the media and Mohammed bin Salman all along has been keen to overcome any challenge, but it seems that the American Senator Lindsay Graham has not been indifferent and has launched a blistering attack on the Saudi Crown Prince. 

By erik d’amato

Is the violent dismemberment of Russia official U.S. policy?

If there’s one thing everyone in today’s Washington can agree on, it’s that whenever an official or someone being paid by the government says something truly outrageous or dangerous, there should be consequences, if only a fleeting moment of media fury. With one notable exception: Arguing that the U.S. should be quietly working to promote the violent disintegration and carving up of the largest country on Earth. 

By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi  

Hashd formations of Iraq: Interview with Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq

There are dozens of formations on the registers of the Hashd Sha'abi Commission. One of them is the military wing of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq ('Movement of the Free Men of Iraq'), which is itself linked to the Mufti of Iraq Mahdi al-Sumaida'ie and his Dar al-Iftaa' al-Iraqiya (a Sunni religious body). To discuss the history of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq and its military wing, I interviewed Anas Mahdi al-Sumaida'ie, who is the secretary general of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq.

By Javad Heirannia

Religion is not necessarily in conflict with modernity: Kevin Richards

TEHRAN - Professor Kevin Richards, chair of Liberal Arts Department at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, tells the Tehran Times that “I would agree with the larger premise that religion is not necessarily in conflict with modernity.”

By Ruhollah Ghasemian

Pompeo’s pointless Mideast trip

TEHRAN - These days, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to the Middle East and his meeting with his eight Arab counterparts have led some to think that Washington is planning to organize an Arab alliance against Iran and a war on Tehran will soon take shape in the region.