By Afshin Majlesi

North Khorasan, the province I almost missed

TEHRAN - A friend’s suggestion was all it took to set me on the road to North Khorasan, one of the few Iranian provinces I had never visited and, until then, had rarely considered as a travel destination.

Government, parliament must reach a common understanding to manage economic conditions: Qalibaf

TEHRAN- Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, emphasizing the necessity of coordination and consensus between the government and parliament in managing the country's economic conditions, said: "Accurate assessment of the current situation and outlining upcoming scenarios can provide the basis for more effective decision-making to improve people's livelihoods and manage economic challenges in the second half of the year."

World standards day ceremony held in Tehran

TEHRAN- The ceremony commemorating World Standards Day was held on the morning of October 13, under the slogan "Shared Vision for a Better World" and focusing on "Clean and Affordable Energy." The event was organized by the National Standards Organization of Iran and attended by a number of national officials and those active in the quality sector at the Summit Hall.

Esteghlal could have scored more goals against Al Gharafa: Bakhtiarizadeh

TEHRAN - Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh felt Esteghlal should have won by a wider margin following their 2-1 defeat of Qatar’s Al Gharafa SC 2-1 in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/2027 tie on Monday.

Ardebil governor urges facilitation of land transit, expanded border cooperation with Azerbaijan

TEHRAN- During a trip to the Republic of Azerbaijan and in meetings with high-ranking officials of the country, the Governor of Ardebil emphasized facilitating the land travel of traders and tourists and expanding bilateral border interactions in the economic, logistical, and crisis-management fields.

Tractor coach dissatisfied with draw against Al Shamal

TEHRAN - Tractor head coach Javad Nekounam was disappointed his side failed to turn their dominance into three points.

Financial transactions with Russia are possible: TPO head

TEHRAN- Mohammad Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, Head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), in response to a question about the organization’s measures to facilitate financial exchanges between Iranian traders and the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), especially Russia, said: “One of the important issues in trade development is preferential and free trade agreements, which have been pursued seriously in the recent period and are being developed.”

Iran sitting volleyball target historic fifth consecutive Asian Para Games gold

TEHRAN - Iran’s men’s sitting volleyball team will head into the upcoming Asian Para Games in Nagoya with a clear objective: extend their remarkable dominance and capture a fifth consecutive gold medal at the continental multi-sport event.

Housing Foundation announces allocation of 70,000 rural land plots to applicants

TEHRAN- The head of the Housing Foundation of the Islamic Revolution said: Under the Housing Foundation’s legal mandate in the Seventh Plan, 70,300 land plots in villages have been allocated, and information on 320,000 units has also been uploaded to the relevant system.

‘Using petrochemical capacities to strengthen national economy required’

TEHRAN- The acting minister of oil, emphasizing the need to strengthen the governance role of the National Petrochemical Company, said: The capacities of the petrochemical industry must be used to create employment, increase production, generate income, and strengthen the country’s economy.

Exports continue through alternative routes: TPO head

TEHRAN- The head of the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), referring to the effects of trade restrictions and a 34 percent drop in the weight of the country’s foreign trade in the first six months of this year, said: At the same time, part of exports is still being carried out by sea, and another part through corridors and land and rail routes. He also called rumors about the closure of some of the country’s borders incorrect.

Esteghlal beat Al Gharafa in 2026/27 ACL Elite

TEHRAN - Esteghlal football team edged Qatar’s Al Gharafa 2-1 to secure their second win in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/2027 at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium on Monday.

Tractor and Al Shamal played out goalless draw

TEHRAN - Tractor and Al Shamal football teams played out a goalless draw in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 clash on Monday.

German silence on Gaza and the West Bank ‘has been loud’: Philippe Sands

Winner of German Book Trade's Peace Prize insists on ‘excavating matters that some wish to hide’ 

TEHRAN — Philippe Sands, a professor of law at University College London and human rights lawyer at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, has criticized Germany’s “silence on crimes committed on the territory of Palestine, in Gaza and in the West Bank.”

By staff writer

Yemen Leaves Riyadh Grounded

Repeated strikes close Riyadh airport and shatter Saudi air defenses as Ansarallah enforces its 'blockade for blockade' doctrine

TEHRAN — Riyadh’s airport has been hit five times since Tuesday, October 6, by Saudi authorities’ own count, and the government cannot promise a sixth will not come. On Saturday, a missile struck King Khalid International Airport, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 300, according to the kingdom. On Sunday, another projectile set Terminal 4 on fire. On Monday, the Saudi civil aviation authority extended the shutdown.