Tehran Times

2025-05-30 20:45
Exclusive:

‘How the MEK abducted my son – and Albania looked away’

Mother tells heart-wrenching story of a 24-year search for her only son

When Soraya Abdollahi was working day and night as a single mother in her 30s to provide for her three young children, she thought the biggest challenge she would face in the future was ensuring her kids received an adequate education and married someone they loved. She never imagined that, at 64 years of age, she and the rest of her family would have already spent over two decades looking for her only son, Amir Arsalan.
- Inside the MEK: How the organization uses abuse and indoctrination to make terrorists
- Women in the MEK: Trapped, tortured, and silenced

Talks, not headlines will deliver results, Iran FM rejects nuclear deal hype

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy amid renewed efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with the United States, denouncing the deliberate media disinformation aimed at undermining the talks.
By Soheila Zarfam

US and Israel are not at odds over Iran, they are in sync

TEHRAN – Since Iran and the U.S. began indirect nuclear negotiations seven weeks ago, Western media outlets have been turning up every now and then to paint Israel as a potential saboteur of the talks, and Washington as their defender.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Main goal of Nawaf Salam’s sterile govt. is to undermine Lebanon’s Resistance

BEIRUT — Once again, Nawaf Salam’s government continues its political ineptitude, not least the statement by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajai (or rather, the Lebanese Forces Foreign Minister) that “the [Lebanese] people no longer want the wooden equation,” referring to the national triangle of Army-People-Resistance.
By Wesam Bahrani

Yemen strikes back at Tel Aviv

TEHRAN – Yemeni forces have targeted Ben Gurion Airport and vow a response to any Israeli aggression with more operations.
‘FATF expected to take confidence-building steps about Iran’

TEHRAN- Iranian deputy minister of finance and economic affairs said that FATF is expected to take confidence-building steps in reply to Iran's set of measures in the field of combating money laundering and terrorism financing, including the ratification of the Palermo Convention.

Politics

46 years of economic warfare

TEHRAN – Economic sanctions are punitive measures imposed by one or more countries to pressure a targeted nation into changing its policies. Typically involving trade bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions, sanctions are framed as a "peaceful" alternative to war. Yet in reality, they inflict severe suffering on ordinary people while often failing to achieve their political goals.
Iran demands Austria explain ‘baseless’ nuclear leak amid suspected Austrian-Israeli collusion

TEHRAN – Iran has formally demanded that Austria explain an “irresponsible and provocative” intelligence report alleging Tehran maintains “an active nuclear weapons program,” amid rising suspicions of Vienna’s coordinated effort with Tel Aviv to disrupt Tehran-Washington diplomacy.
‘Nothing left’ to discuss with UK if it demands zero enrichment, Araghchi declares

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivered a stark warning to the United Kingdom on Tuesday, stating that London's apparent insistence on "zero enrichment" in Iran renders further dialogue on the nuclear issue futile.

Sports

Iran B team earn three wins in 2025 CAVA Men’s Nations League

TEHRAN – The Iran 'B' volleyball team advanced to the next round of the 2025 CAVA Men’s Nations League as Pool A winners.
Iran’s Amirian seizes silver in 2025 Asian Athletic Championships

TEHRAN – Ali Amirian of Iran won a silver medal in the men’s 800m of the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships on Saturday.
Iran’s Tabiat learn fate in BCL Asia 2025

TEHRAN - The FIBA Regional Office-Asia has confirmed the groupings for the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 following a draw conducted Saturday at the UG Palace in Mongolia.

Culture

BalkanIran Institute launched in Tehran

TEHRAN – During a ceremony attended by a distinguished gathering of researchers, scholars, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, media professionals, and international and regional experts on Thursday, the BalkanIran Cultural and Media Institute was officially unveiled in Tehran.
“Hamilton” to be shown at Labkhand Theater Complex

TEHRAN – Labkhand Theater Complex in Tehran will show the recorded stage performance of “Hamilton” on Saturday.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones’ “Persians: The Age of the Great Kings” available at bookstores

TEHRAN – The Persian translation of the book “Persians: The Age of the Great Kings” written by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has been released in the bookstores across Iran.

Economy

Iran, Tajikistan sign railway transit deal, launch new chapter in bilateral co-op

TEHRAN - Iran and Tajikistan have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance bilateral rail transport, enabling the use of Iranian freight wagons on Tajikistan's railway network, Iran’s railway authority announced.
Car manufacturing up 3.6% in 2 months on year

TEHRAN – Manufacturing of vehicles in Iran increased by 3.6 percent in the first two months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-May 21), as compared to the same period of time in the past year, according to data published on the Codal system.
Government rapidly pursuing solar panels installation in organizations

TEHRAN- The government is rapidly pursuing the installation of solar panels in the organizations and executive agencies, especially in Tehran, the vice president announced.

Society

Seven countries attend Iran’s nanotech achievements meeting

TEHRAN – During a meeting held in Tehran on Thursday, high-ranking delegations from Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, Serbia, Honduras, China, and Vietnam became more familiar with Iran’s accomplishments in the field of nanotechnology and its applications, particularly in the health sector.
Iran-China workshop on increasing climate change resilience underway

TEHRAN –Supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), an Iranian-Chinese workshop is being held on Saturday and Sunday, focusing on emerging ways to boost climate change resilience.
DOE, Ministry of Education implementing joint project

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education is implementing an environmental project under the theme ‘education is the key to change’.

Tourism

Esfahak village gains UNESCO research chair for earth architecture

TEHRAN - The village of Esfahak in South Khorasan province has been awarded one of UNESCO’s 34 prestigious research chairs, marking an achievement for the local and national cultural heritage and scientific communities.
German ambassador highlights archaeology as a cultural bridge between Tehran and Berlin

TEHRAN - German Ambassador to Iran, Markus Potzel, has described archaeology as a shared language of civilizations and a powerful bridge linking Iran and Germany through science and culture.
Groundbreaking discovery in northern Persian Gulf sheds new light on early human migration

TEHRAN - A major archaeological discovery in the northern hinterlands of the Persian Gulf is transforming our understanding of early human migration into Asia.

International

Main goal of Nawaf Salam’s sterile govt. is to undermine Lebanon’s Resistance

BEIRUT — Once again, Nawaf Salam’s government continues its political ineptitude, not least the statement by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajai (or rather, the Lebanese Forces Foreign Minister) that “the [Lebanese] people no longer want the wooden equation,” referring to the national triangle of Army-People-Resistance.
Yemen strikes back at Tel Aviv

TEHRAN – Yemeni forces have targeted Ben Gurion Airport and vow a response to any Israeli aggression with more operations.
600 days of failure in Gaza

TEHRAN – May 29 marked the 600th day since Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip.

Mother tells heart-wrenching story of a 24-year search for her only son