Iran futsal team to play two friendlies with Iraq

TEHRAN – The Head of Iran’s Futsal League Organization announced that the national futsal team will play two friendly matches against Iraq as part of their preparations for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup.

The UAE-backed STC remains defiant

Saudi Arabia discloses details of Yemen bombing

Saudi Arabia has released more details on the coalition bombing of the Yemeni port of Mukalla, which has triggered tensions with the United Arab Emirates, its Arab ally and neighbor, and prompted the latter to say it will withdraw its forces from Yemen.

'Humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic'

Winter intensifies crisis as 10 nations warn of worsening Gaza blockade

Foreign ministers from ten nations have voiced alarm over the sharp deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza, warning that the situation has reached “catastrophic” levels.

Medical tourism, golden opportunity for Sistan-Baluchestan’s development

TEHRAN--Establishing a coherent health tourism structure is the key to attracting medical tourists and strengthening the health economy in Sistan-Baluchestan province, given its extensive medical, educational, and research capacities.

Bulgur-Pazan ritual, still alive in memory of southern Khorasan people

TEHRAN--In the heart of the southern Khorasan desert, a centuries-old ritual continues to thrive in the collective memory of local communities.

Armenian community, genuine part of Iranian nation

TEHRAN--The Armenian community of Iran is not a minority, but a genuine and deep-rooted part of the Iranian nation, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri said during his visit to the Saint Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran on Tuesday,

IRCS wishes ‘valuable human achievements for nations’ in New Year

TEHRAN – The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Pirhossein Kolivand, has wished valuable human achievements for nations and red crescent societies around the world in 2026.

Health ministry observes national social work day

TEHRAN – The ministry of health commemorated the 40th national social work day on Wednesday, highlighting intersectoral collaboration to support children within the health system.

Afghans coming from Iran have ‘better education, food security’ than those returning from Pakistan

TEHRAN - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said those Afghan refugees returning from Iran often have more education, better food security, and housing than those returning from Pakistan.

Drought persists despite intensified precipitation

TEHRAN – Despite recent heavy rainfalls, water resources in the country are still under pressure, with a large part of the country grappling with drought.

Iran, Russia hold joint energy working group meeting

TEHRAN- The Iran-Russia Energy Working Group meeting was held, co-chaired by Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister for International and Commercial Affairs and Russia’s Deputy Energy Minister, during which emphasis was placed on operationalizing strategic memoranda of understanding between the two countries.

Hemmati appointed new governor of CBI

TEHRAN- Abdolnaser Hemmati was elected as the new governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI).

Iranian women weightlifters have bright future: Anoushiravani

TEHRAN - Sajjad Anoushiravani, president of the Iran Weightlifting Federation, given the strong talent and potential of Iranian women, they will soon win medals at the Asian and even world level.

By Ranjan Solomon

Venezuela, Russia, and the return of nuclear signaling

How a distant crisis exposes the fractures of the global order

GOA - At a time when global discourse is saturated with managed outrage and selective morality, certain crises are rendered invisible not because they lack consequence, but because they expose uncomfortable truths about power. Venezuela is one such crisis. Rarely discussed beyond caricatures of authoritarianism or economic failure, it has now re-entered the global stage in a far more unsettling form — as a strategic fault line in an intensifying confrontation between imperial persistence and geopolitical resistance.

Tehran cultural center to review “Train Dreams”

TEHRAN- “Train Dreams”, a 2025 drama movie by American filmmaker Clint Bentley, will be reviewed at the Arasbaran Cultural Center in Tehran on Wednesday evening. 

Israel conceals extent of casualties from 12-day war: Iran war room chief

TEHRAN – Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Israel suffered “very heavy blows” during the 12-day war with Iran but is concealing the true scale of its casualties and damage through strict censorship.

Iran, Oman call for greater Islamic coordination amid rising regional tensions

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi have stressed the need for sustained consultation and coordination among Islamic countries to address the drivers of division and instability in the region.

Tehran reiterates respect for Lebanon’s independence, says ambassador

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani has reviewed developments in Lebanon and the region in separate meetings with the Lebanese defense minister and the commander of the Lebanese Army.

Enemy stages street protests to mask 12‑day war defeat

TEHRAN - The Javan newspaper analyzed enemy strategies in fomenting unrest in Iran.

‘Illegal and coercive’, FM Araghchi condemns US actions against Venezuela

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reiterated Tehran’s firm opposition to any action that threatens Venezuela’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, saying he is confident the country will safeguard its independence in the face of external pressure.

Iran blacklists Royal Canadian Navy as ‘terror organization’

TEHRAN – Iran has officially designated the Royal Canadian Navy as a terrorist organization, responding to Canada’s “illegal decision” last year to target part of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Our restraint should not be misread as weakness, Iran FM writes in The Guardian

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister has warned that the country’s restraint during recent war with Israel should not be interpreted as weakness or assumed to be unlimited, highlighting the high cost of Israeli provocations for the United States and the region.