Tehran Times

2026-10-12 20:34
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.
- Yemen breaking the blockade and beginning a new phase
- Yemen hits Riyadh airport again as Saudi flights collapse

US claims do not match what we see on the ground: Baqaei

TEHRAN— Iran has dismissed US assertions that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has returned to normal, saying Washington’s continued naval blockade and economic sanctions are incompatible with restoring security to the strategic waterway.
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.”
Powers greater than US tried to conquer Iran but ended up in ‘dustbin of history,’ Rezaei says

TEHRAN — Iran’s top security official says Tehran will determine the outcome of its confrontation with Washington, rules out a return to previous diplomatic norms and warns of potential retaliation against US assets in the event of renewed aggression.
By Bahram Sangari

Bombs that pushed Iran across the rubicon

Two wars launched by the US and Israel under the false pretext of stopping Iran's nuclear weapon may have made it more likely

TEHRAN – Donald Trump says he went to war to ensure Iran never gets the bomb — dozens of times and counting. Yet the war fought in the name of non-proliferation has acted like a boomerang: far from closing Iran's path to the bomb, it may have pushed Tehran closer to it.
Araghchi calls for international accountability for environmental destruction in wars

TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for stronger international mechanisms to prevent and address environmental destruction during armed conflicts, stressing that the international community must move beyond expressions of concern and ensure effective accountability for those responsible.

Politics

Pezeshkian invites Oman's Sultan to Tehran

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq to visit Tehran, expressing hope for in-person talks in the near future.
Super oil tanker catches fire after hitting sea mine in Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN_ The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that a super oil tanker carrying crude oil caught fire after hitting a sea mine while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorized route.
Hive dwellers vs. screen players: The anatomy of two societies

TEHRAN - This question has puzzled many astute observers in the West — and echoed through the stunned minds of Trump and Netanyahu alike: Why, following the assassination of the leadership, did the Iranian government not collapse like governments in other countries?

Sports

Faraji and Yari named Iran’s flag-bearers: 2026 YOC

TEHRAN - Table tennis champion Benyamin Faraji and national futsal player Hadis Yari have been selected as Iran’s flag-bearers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Iran deaf athletics team exceed expectations: chief

TEHRAN - Iran Deaf Sports Federation President Masoud Farahani has praised the national deaf athletics team’s performance at the Asian Championships in Penang, Malaysia, saying the team achieved the best possible results at minimal cost.
2026 YOG: Iran beach volleyball discover fate

TEHRAN - The match-ups are now known for the beach volleyball tournament at the Dakar 2026 YOG.

Culture

Nude Trump sculpture sparks political controversy at European Parliament

TEHRAN- A gold-covered sculpture depicting US President Donald Trump naked and sitting on the back of a frail man has sparked a political controversy at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, drawing criticism from several European lawmakers and a call by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for its removal, while others have defended the artwork as a form of political satire and freedom of expression.
Tehran hosts art exhibition, live painting workshop on True Promise

TEHRAN- The second edition of the painting exhibition and live art workshop “True Promise in the Mirror of Art” is currently underway at Palestine Square in Tehran, with artists and members of the public taking part in the event.
Martyr Leader’s “Cell No. 14” published in Armenian

TEHRAN – The Armenian translation of the book “Cell No. 14,” which is the autobiographical memoir of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was unveiled at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State University in Armenia on Friday.

Economy

Tehran showcases urban market management, food security expertise to foreign delegations

TEHRAN- Tehran Municipality’s first program in the series of specialized visits “Introducing Tehran’s Urban Management Capabilities,” focusing on urban markets, logistics, and food security, was held on Saturday, October 10, in cooperation with the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Asian Mayors Forum (AMF).
Iran, Turkmenistan emphasize expansion of parliamentary, economic cooperation

TEHRAN- Farzaneh Sadegh, Iran’s Minister of Transport and Urban Development and Chair of the Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Economic Cooperation Committee, met Dunyagozel Gulmanova, Speaker of the Assembly of Turkmenistan.
International Shiraz Expo opens with 343 foreign guests from 13 countries

TEHRAN- The opening ceremony of the second International Shiraz Expo was held on Sunday, October 11, in the presence of Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts; Hossein-Ali Amiri, Governor of Fars; and representatives of the people of Fars in the Parliament.

Society

Iran to expand nuclear technology applications in healthcare

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the application of nuclear technology in the healthcare sector.
Mustafa Prize laureate donates award money to support young scientists

TEHRAN – Turkish Professor Mehmet Toner, a 2025 laureate of the Mustafa Prize, has pledged his share of the prize money to support the development of the Rasul Medal and provide research grants for young scientists.
UN official: Environmental protection must be integral to post-war recovery

TEHRAN – UN Resident Coordinator in Iran Christine Weigand has stressed the far-reaching and long-term environmental consequences of war, saying environmental protection must be incorporated into both emergency response measures and long-term recovery plans, as protecting the environment ultimately means safeguarding human health, livelihoods and the future.

Tourism

Jajarm offers budget-friendly rural escape, but rail links need improvement

JAJARM, North Khorasan Province – With its quiet rural surroundings, historical railway station and proximity to protected natural areas, Jajarm has the potential to attract travelers seeking an affordable alternative to Iran’s busier tourist destinations. But poor railway facilities, limited train tickets and a shortage of visitor services remain major obstacles to turning that potential into a thriving tourism destination.
Dozens of possible dinosaur footprints emerge in Iran, researcher urges urgent documentation

TEHRAN – A rock surface bearing dozens of possible dinosaur footprints has been exposed in Iran following a landslide, prompting a paleontologist to call for urgent scientific investigation and documentation to protect the traces from weathering and erosion.
Cultural officials reject Rubio’s remarks on Persian history at Athens’ Acropolis

TEHRAN – Joining Iranian political officials, several senior cultural figures, including the tourism minister, the head of the Iranology Foundation and the director-general of the National Museum of Iran, have criticized US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks on ancient Persian history, saying historical civilizations should not be used to justify political hostility or threats of war.

International

Yemen Leaves Riyadh Grounded

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

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.”
The weapon shifting Yemen’s frontlines

TEHRAN – While Yemeni missile attacks on Riyadh airport capture global headlines, another tactical weapon has shifted the frontlines near Bab al-Mandab.