Tehran Times

2026-10-20 21:44
Brother Munir! The Ball Is in the US Court

Pakistan's army chief came to Tehran to break the deadlock, but the US has repeatedly derailed mediation with fantasies like Iran's surrender

TEHRAN – Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for consultations with Iranian officials. It is General Munir's fifth visit to Tehran since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28.
- Iran quagmire: Trump’s failed strategy and its heavy cost

VP urges SCO to strengthen economic integration, independent financial mechanisms

TEHRAN — Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has called on members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to turn their economic potential into concrete joint projects, accelerate the establishment of an SCO Development Bank and expand cooperation in trade, energy, transportation and digital technology.
Iran says will respond proportionately to any aggression

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has warned that any renewed aggression against Iran will be met with a response proportionate to the attack, stressing that Tehran is prepared to defend the country under all circumstances.
By Afshin Majlesi

Iran and Uzbekistan: Where shared history comes alive in Tashkent

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - As an Iranian journalist visiting Tashkent, I found myself looking at the huge Islamic Civilization Center from two perspectives. I was a visitor discovering the depth of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. I was also an Iranian looking for familiar traces of a civilization that has never respected the borders drawn on today’s maps.
By staff writer

Trump approval crashes to record low 31% as Iran war backlash mounts

TEHRAN — American voters are turning decisively against President Donald Trump on the eve of the November 3 midterm elections, pushing his approval rating down to 31 percent in a nationwide Reuters/Ipsos survey published on Tuesday, October 20. The figure marks the lowest point across both of his presidential terms.
By Ali Minabi

Gaza’s battle for hearts and minds

TEHRAN – More than three years after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the Palestinian cause has seen internal and external shifts.

Politics

Iran urges Int'l legal bodies to act over attack on Dena destroyer

TEHRAN — Iranian Army Deputy Coordinator Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has called on international legal bodies to fulfill their responsibilities regarding the attack on the Iranian destroyer Dena, stressing that the vessel had been deployed to India to convey a message of peace and friendship and carry out training missions.
Pakistan to continue mediation between Iran and US, Dar says

TEHRAN– Pakistan will continue its diplomatic efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday, reaffirming Islamabad’s support for dialogue and a peaceful resolution of regional disputes.
Mohajerani: Iran’s history of resistance reflects nation’s resolve to defend its sovereignty

TEHRAN – Iranian Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani has praised the Iranian nation’s determination and ability to withstand external aggression, saying past wars demonstrate the country’s resolve to safeguard its independence, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Sports

Shot putter Khosravi snatches gold in Asian Para Games

TEHRAN - Yasin Khosravi won the gold medal in the shot put at the para-athletics competition at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Haghighatshenas takes gold in para Ttekwondo

TEHRAN - Amirmohammad Haghighatshenas won the gold medal in 2026 Asian Para Games para taekwondo after defeating the host nation’s representative in the final.
Safarzadeh bags silver in the Women’s 200m in Asian Para Games

TEHRAN - Hajar Safarzadeh won the silver medal in the women’s 200-meter race at the para-athletics competition.

Culture

Mehr Media Group delegation visits Armenpress, discusses expanding media cooperation

TEHRAN – A delegation from the Mehr Media Group held talks with the management of the Armenpress news agency in Armenia regarding the expansion of media cooperation and the development of joint productions.
TMoCA website displays 1,000 artworks

TEHRAN – The head of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMoCA) has announced that it is now possible to view the museum’s collection online.
“Gaza Girl” short film takes anti-war message to festivals in France, US

TEHRAN- Iranian short film “Gaza Girl,” written and directed by Hossein Babaeian, was screened at the 13th Hendaia Film Festival in France and is set to participate in the Authentic Global Films festival in the United States in November, continuing its international festival run.

Economy

US warmongering has disrupted global food security: Iran’s minister

TEHRAN- Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, emphasizing the need to guarantee the right of all people in the world to access food by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said: "US unilateralism and warmongering have disrupted and created problems for global food security and the transfer of food and agricultural products in the world."
Iran, Kazakhstan pursue North–South corridor, Chabahar rail links

TEHRAN- Developing access for Central Asian countries to open waters, activating the eastern branch of the North–South Corridor, and advancing Iran’s rail routes to Afghanistan and beyond were among the most important axes of the Iranian Minister of Transport and Urban Development’s negotiations during his visit to Kazakhstan.
Iran, Qatar discuss energy cooperation issues

TEHRAN- Iran’s Acting Minister of Oil and Qatar’s Minister of Energy met and held talks on cooperation between Tehran and Doha.

Society

Iran joins two-week biodiversity negotiations at COP17 in Armenia

TEHRAN – Iran is participating in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Armenia with a delegation of experts and academics led by Hamid Zohrabi, deputy head of the Department of Environment.
WFP releases September report on Iran

TEHRAN – The World Food Program (WFP) has released a report, expounding on activities in Iran over the month of September.
Workshop on ‘Trauma for First Responders’ held in Tehran

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has held the first three-day training workshop on ‘Trauma for First Responders’ for selected IRCS personnel, with a focus on trauma and pre-hospital care.

Tourism

Iran and Uzbekistan: Where shared history comes alive in Tashkent

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - As an Iranian journalist visiting Tashkent, I found myself looking at the huge Islamic Civilization Center from two perspectives. I was a visitor discovering the depth of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. I was also an Iranian looking for familiar traces of a civilization that has never respected the borders drawn on today’s maps.
Iran, Greece reaffirm interest in expanding cultural heritage cooperation

TEHRAN - Iran and Greece have reaffirmed their interest in expanding bilateral cooperation in cultural heritage protection, with senior officials discussing joint projects, research initiatives and closer cultural ties between the two countries.
Tehran, Islamabad seek to expand tourism ties through easier group visas, Silk Road tours

TEHRAN - Iran and Pakistan have discussed measures to expand tourism cooperation, including facilitating group visa issuance, improving cross-border infrastructure and developing joint tours focused on the Silk Road and medical tourism.

International

Trump approval crashes to record low 31% as Iran war backlash mounts

TEHRAN — American voters are turning decisively against President Donald Trump on the eve of the November 3 midterm elections, pushing his approval rating down to 31 percent in a nationwide Reuters/Ipsos survey published on Tuesday, October 20. The figure marks the lowest point across both of his presidential terms.
Gaza’s battle for hearts and minds

TEHRAN – More than three years after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the Palestinian cause has seen internal and external shifts.
NAZA: When technology makes killing a calculation

GOA, India – There are films that recount the horrors of war, films that make audiences feel the pain of those who endure it, and films that take us somewhere far more disturbing: into the machinery that makes such horrors possible. NAZA, the documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, belongs to this third category. It asks us to look beyond the images of destruction that have become tragically familiar from Gaza and confront the systems, institutional cultures and technological processes through which the destruction of human life can be organised, assessed and justified.

Pakistan's army chief came to Tehran to break the deadlock, but the US has repeatedly derailed mediation with fantasies like Iran's surrender