By Afshin Majlesi

Iran’s trump cards to kick-start tourism in post-COVID-19 world

TEHRAN – As you are well aware, the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has plunged the travel and tourism industry in the global scene, disrupting life in ways that were unimaginable just a few months ago.

Two Iranian coaches shortlisted for volleyball hotseat

TEHRAN – Peyman Akbari and Behrouz Ataei have been nominated to take charge of Iran national volleyball team.

No restrictions for organizing package tours: deputy minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said that the ministry sees no restrictions for organizing package tours by travel agencies as far as health protocols to curb the coronavirus are observed.

Winning the title is in Persepolis’s DNA: coach

TEHRAN – Persepolis coach Hamid Motahari says that they have good chance to win the Iran Professional League (IPL) title since to win the trophy is in the team’s DNA.

German FM makes unfounded claims about Iranian govt.’s pressure on media regarding COVID-19

TEHRAN- Some European governments have gone beyond planting opportunistic elements to put pressure on the Iranian media and government regarding the freedom of the Iranian press amid the pandemic, and have now reached a point where they make baseless claims without any evidence.

By Masoud Hossein

Iranian clubs make excuse to resume the league

TEHRAN – There is no excuse at all, the Iran Professional League must resume on June 18 but several clubs are reluctant to return to the competition for the illogical reasons.

Football teams must learn to live with coronavirus, Persepolis sporting director says

TEHRAN - Afshin Peyrovani, the sporting director of Persepolis, believes that people have to learn to live with coronavirus as football is set to return in Iran.

‘Sympathetic Iran’ donates $35m to families affected by COVID-19

TEHRAN – A national campaign called Iran-e Hamdel (literally meaning sympathetic Iran) has collected 1.5 trillion rials (nearly $35 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to help the financially struggling families affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: a pilgrimage to Shah-e Cheragh after two-month closure

TEHRAN – Photos depict people visiting Shah-e Cheragh (“King of Light”), a major mausoleum and pilgrimage site in the tourist city of Shiraz, southern Iran, on May 26, 2020.

Iranian skater Nemati dies of Covid-19

TEHRAN – Iran national skate team member Mohammad Nemati died of Coronavirus on Tuesday.

By Chang Hua, Chinese ambassador to Iran  

Welcome to special Canton Fair in special time

Given the global pandemic, China has decided to launch the 127th Canton Fair online. Herewith, I would like to introduce and welcome our Iranian friends to this online fair.

Some teams plan to cancel the league resumption: Beiranvand

TEHRAN - Persepolis and Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand believes that some teams in Iran Professional League (IPL) plan to cancel the league without naming the champion.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Learning from each other – Iran’s COVID-19 experiences should be shared: WHO’s Hamelmann

TEHRAN – Iran is benefiting from strengths in fighting against the coronavirus epidemic, including strong primary health care system, production surge in a reasonable time, and multisectoral response, WHO Representative in Iran, Dr. Christoph Hamelmann, said in an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times.

By Farrokh Hessabi

Coronavirus has taught us all humans are equal: Branko Ivankovic

TEHRAN – Former Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says that all humans regardless of color, race, gender, national origin, religion, and political beliefs must join hands to fight Covid-19.

Coronavirus: Each team with five players tested positive, not allowed to play

TEHRAN - If five players of a team are tested positive, the team’s matches will be canceled, acting head of Iran Football League Organization Soheil Mahdi said.

By QU Dongyu and Inger Andersen

Time to restore human relations with nature and biodiversity

TEHRAN- The COVID-19 pandemic is a deep and lasting shock at global level; we all know that returning to “business as usual” is not an option. It is imperative that we perceive the crisis as an opportunity to rebuild – and even improve – livelihoods in a sustainable way. High on the agenda is restoring harmony to humanity’s relationship with nature, and particularly with biodiversity.

Farrokh Hessabi

Football post-coronavius: A new era?

TEHRAN - How football will be different after the coronavirus crisis? sports events are going to resume after months of hiatus that was the result of the outbreak of the novel virus.

Open-air recreation centers, natural landscapes open under health protocols: tourism minister

TEHRAN – Open-air recreation centers and natural landscapes have been reopened in Iran under the condition of observing health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Iranian football teams start coronavirus testing

TEHRAN – Several Iranian Professional League teams started testing their players for coronavirus on Wednesday ahead of a return to training on Saturday.

By Masoud Hossein

Football brings back happiness

TEHRAN – Football competitions are going to restart amid concerns over many worrying issues in the world and it can be a turning point for the people to taste happiness and excitement once again.

Persepolis coach Golmohammadi happy for football resumption

TEHRAN - Yahya Golmohammadi, head coach of Persepolis football team, has expressed his happiness on the resumption of the Iran Professional League (IPL) matches.

107 Iranian medical staff died in coronavirus battle

TEHRAN – An official with the Iranian Medical Council has said that 107 healthcare workers have so far lost their lives in the country in fighting the coronavirus.

By Salman Parviz

PGCC migrant labor camps Covid-19 hotspots

Impoverished migrant workers desperate, unable to return home

The two things the six Persian Gulf Co-operation Council (PGCC) member countries rely most on are revenue from oil/gas exports and foreign workers, both have been hit hard due to Covid-19 outbreak. 

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran tourism industry to rebound sooner than expected: deputy minister

TEHRAN – The tourism industry of Iran will get back on the right track sooner than expected thanks to measures taken to tackle the spread of coronavirus, deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri has said.

International Museum Day: Iran museums hailed by online visitors

TEHRAN – Contrary to previous years, thousands of art-and-history lovers toured Iran’s cultural heritage museums online on Monday (May 18), which marks the International Museum Day.

Players will face legal action in case pretending to have coronavirus

TEHRAN- Acting head of Iran Football League Organization Soheil Mahdi has warned team members and players about pretending to have coronavirus.

Tourism ministry issues guideline to curb pandemic as travels seen to rise

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has issued a guideline comprising health protocols to lessen coronavirus pandemic as many families are expected to start domestic travels during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holidays (May 24 and 25).

By Payman Yazdani

China was, is, and will be peace builder and promoter in West Asia: envoy

TEHRAN- Chinese ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua in an interview with the Mehr News Agency criticizes the U.S. baseless accusations over the outbreak of coronavirus. 

Tehran slams continued U.S. acts of sabotage amid coronavirus pandemic

TEHRAN — Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has condemned the U.S. for committing acts of sabotage at a time when the world is in need of a united fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic.