Suspense and uncertainty hang over intra-Afghan summit in Qatar

After a lot of hullabaloo, there seems to be a tepid response from the Afghan government to the forthcoming meeting with the Taliban scheduled on April 19-20 in Qatar.

Larijani says U.S. behavior endangering global peace

TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday that the “imprudent” behavior demonstrated by the Trump administration is endangering the international peace and security.

Iran move up one place in FIFA rankings

TEHRAN – Iran national football team moved up one place to 21st in the latest FIFA rankings.

Philippines beat Iran at 2020 Olympic Qualifiers Round 2

East Asian side the Philippines registered win over Iran on the opening day of Group C action in Round 2 of the AFC Women's Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers on Wednesday.

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

In Doha talks, Taliban call for withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan

TEHRAN - Hectic negotiations are underway between a delegation of the Afghan Taliban and U.S. officials in Doha to hammer out a solution to the protracted Afghan war.

Iranian cyclist Faraz Shokri wins silver at Al Adaid Desert Challenge

TEHRAN – Iranian cyclist Faraz Shokri claimed a silver medal at the fourth edition of the Al Adaid Desert Challenge, which took place in Khor Al Adaid Area in Qatar.

Esteghlal winger Sayyadmanesh misses Al Duhail match

TEHRAN – Esteghlal football team winger has missed his team’s opener in the 2019 AFC Champions League.

International Indoor Athletic Competition to be held in Tehran

TEHRAN - On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the International Indoor Athletic Competition will take place at the Aftab Enghelab Complex in Tehran, Iran.

Qatar thanks Iran for its supports

TEHRAN – Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has thanked Iran for supports during the blockade of the Arab country.

Iran jump seven spots to 24th in FIFA rankings

TEHRAN – Iran national football team jumped seven spots to 24th in the latest FIFA world rankings released on Thursday.

Qatar crowned AFC Asian Cup champions

Almoez Ali scored a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the tournament to set Qatar on their way to a first Asian Cup triumph with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions Japan on Friday.

Afghan president calls on Taliban to 'enter serious talks' with Kabul

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani called on the Taliban to "enter serious talks" with the government in Kabul Monday, following unprecedented marathon negotiations between the insurgents and the US in Qatar last week.

Qatar’s Al Jassim to officiate Iran vs China match

TEHRAN - Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim has been chosen to officiate Iran’s AFC Asian Cup quarter-final match against China on Thursday.

Persian Gulf Arabs abandoning their homeland

Fed up with social restrictions and political repression, Saudis are leading the way

Canada lies far north of her intended destination, but Rahaf Muhammad is happy to be enduring its harsh winter. The 18-year-old Saudi hoped to end up in Australia after escaping her allegedly violent family. But she was stopped on the way, in Bangkok.

Persepolis, Bayern Munich, PSG to hold camp in Aspire Academy

TEHRAN – Persepolis football team of Iran will hold a winter training camp at the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) in Doha, Qatar.

Iran defeat Qatar in friendly

TEHRAN – Iran national football team beat Qatar 2-1 in a friendly match in Doha as part of preparation for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on Monday.

Amir Abdollahian meets Qatari ambassador

TEHRAN – Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the parliament speaker, met on Monday with Qatar’s Ambassador to Tehran, Mohammed Hamad Saad al-Fahid al-Hajeri.

South Pars phase 13 last train of refinery comes on stream

TEHRAN- The last train of sweetening refinery of Iran’s South Pars gas field’s phase 13 of development was put into operation, Payam Motamed, the operator of this phase, announced.

Jahangiri felicitates Qatar on National Day

TEHRAN – Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri on Monday congratulated Qatar on National Day and called for expansion of relations between Tehran and Doha.

By Mohammad Homaeefar

Red Sea legal regime: Spider’s dream against Iran won’t be realized  

TEHRAN - On Wednesday, December 12, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh hosted the first Arab-African conference of foreign ministers of six countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a strategic area vital to global shipping.

Iran football team named for Qatar training camp

TEHRAN – Carlos Queiroz has named his 21-man Team Melli squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 on Sunday.

By Javad Heirannia

Continuation PGCC crisis will increase Turkish footprint in Qatar: Entessar

TEHRAN - Nader Entessar, Professor Emeritus of Political Science from university of South Alabama says that Turkey's military base in Qatar allows Ankara to project power in the Persian Gulf while maintaining close ties to Doha.

By Javad Heirannia

PGCC might survive in name only: Chicago professor

TEHRAN – Robert R. Bianchi, a Professor at the University of Chicago, believes that “Nowadays, China and Russia are acquiring greater influence in Iran and the Persian Gulf nations so it is natural that Doha and Muscat are inviting them to balance the destabilizing consequences of American and Saudi policies.”

By Javad Heirannia

PGCC was never effective organization: Shireen Hunter

TEHRAN - Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, a professor of political science at Georgetown University, tells the Tehran Times that “the PGCC was never an effective organization. Certainly, it has been an unequal partnership in the sense that Saudi Arabia has dominated the Organization.”

PGCC is neither ‘council’ nor ‘cooperation’: advisor

TEHRAN – Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the parliament speaker, has said that neither “council” nor “cooperation” has remained from the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council.

FIFA to decide whether Qatar’s neighbors could host some of 2022's games

TEHRAN - Gianni Infantino reiterated that FIFA will decide in March whether neighboring countries could be allowed to host some of Qatar 2022's games.

By Payman Yazdani

Qatar withdraw from OPEC may increase Iran’s production share: Zaccara

TEHRAN - Dr. Luciano Zaccara says Qatar withdraw from OPEC may increase the quota (of power and production) that OPEC may allocate to Iran, which is not in line with the US policy towards Iran. 

 By Fatemeh Salehi

Fragile alliance in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council

Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi announced a few days ago that Qatar intended to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) starting from January 1, 2019. This news has fomented worldwide reactions.