Tehran Times

2024-12-20 23:22
By Soheila Zarfam

Meeting in Cairo, Anxiety in Tel Aviv

Israel watches warily as Pezeshkian’s Cairo visit raises prospects for Iran-Egypt rapprochement

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is following in the footsteps of his predecessor. The surgeon-turned-politician is deepening Iran's connections in the region, forging stronger ties with Muslim nations and solidifying key alliances.
- Senior Egyptian official anticipates Iran, Egypt exchanging ambassadors soon
- Iran's Pezeshkian, Egypt's al-Sisi eye on ‘full restoration of ties’

Resistance groups are autonomous, Araghchi tells Egyptian media

TEHRAN – In an interview with Egypt's Alghad TV, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed misconceptions surrounding Iran's influence in the region, emphasizing that Resistance groups operate independently and are not under Iranian command.
By Batool Subeiti

War and diplomacy during and after the Al-Aqsa Flood

BEIRUT - Diplomacy during times of war differs significantly from diplomacy during periods of relative calm. This is particularly true when the negotiating parties fundamentally differ in their goals and have different standards. With an enemy that achieves their goals through striking fear, one cannot rely on their goodwill, nor waste available opportunities in the hope of a mirage.
By Shahrokh Saei

US diplomats in Syria: A charm offensive to mislead the public

TEHRAN- The presence of a senior delegation of American diplomats in Syria along with their efforts to engage with the country’s rebel leaders primarily aims to mislead public opinion and further the US political objectives.
By Wesam Bahrani

Ansarallah undeterred by Israeli attacks

TEHRAN – Hebrew media has shed light on the Israeli aggression on Yemen that took place on Thursday.
Yemeni missile fall in Tel Aviv-Jaffa area, injures 16

A Yemeni-launched missile landed in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa-areas on Saturday injuring 16 people.

Politics

Iran’s presence in Syria: security chief explains the ‘why’ and ‘how’

TEHRAN – In an interview with Khamenei.ir, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), provided a comprehensive explanation of Iran's presence in Syria over the past decade.
Tehran blasts interventionist policies of UK, Australia in West Asia

TEHRAN – The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denounced the recent joint statement issued by the foreign and defense ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom, labeling it as "baseless, unrealistic, and irrelevant."
Biden's sanction encore: escalating economic warfare against Iran

TEHRAN – As President Joe Biden's administration nears its end, the United States has unleashed what seems to be its final round of sanctions against Iran, aiming to cripple its economy and exert significant psychological and political pressure on its citizens.

Sports

Super heavyweight lifter Yousefi attracts world’s attention

TEHRAN - Alireza Yousefi, the 21-year-old Iranian weightlifting sensation, has captured the world’s attention with a stunning performance at the 2024 IWF World Championships. Yousefi’s clean and jerk of 262kg not only secured him a gold medal but also positioned him as a serious contender for future Olympic glory.
Iranian athlete Marian receives three-year ban for anti-doping rule violation

TEHRAN - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned Para athletics athlete Mostafa Marian of Iran for a period of three years for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code.
Mehdi Rahmati steps down as Havadar coach

TEHRAN – Mehdi Rahmati parted company with Havadar football club following poor results in the 2024/25 Iran’s Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL).

Culture

“Rojin's Dream” wins award at Duhok International Film Festival

TEHRAN-The semi-feature documentary “Rojin's Dream” directed by Serwa Aliveysi from Iran won an award at the 11th Duhok International Film Festival in Kurdistan region, Iraq.
Handwritten edition of “Divan of Hafez” by calligrapher Mirza Mohammadreza Kalhor unveiled

TEHRAN-A ceremony was held in Tehran on Wednesday to unveil a rare handwritten edition of “Divan of Hafez” by the renowned calligrapher Mirza Mohammadreza Kalhor.
What’s in Tehran art galleries

Omid Hallaj is putting his latest paintings on view in an exhibition at Bavan Gallery. Entitled “Absence”, the exhibit will run until January 6, 2025 at the gallery located at 7 Abdo off Lareztan St. off Motahhari Ave.

Economy

Iran's finance minister meets D-8 secretary-general to discuss trade, investment

TEHRAN – Iran's Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Abdolnaser Hemmati met with Secretary-general of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam on Thursday to discuss boosting trade and investment among the eight developing Islamic nations.
Iran-Egypt trade surges 67% in 8 months amid growing economic ties

TEHRAN – Trade between Iran and Egypt reached $17.18 million in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-November 20), marking a 67 percent increase compared to the same period last year, a trade official said on Thursday.
China ready to invest in combined-cycle power plants in Iran’s Khuzestan

TEHRAN – Chinese investors are prepared to fund the construction of combined-cycle power plants in Iran’s energy-rich Khuzestan province to help address the country’s energy imbalance and boost regional economic development, a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) representative said on Thursday.

Society

Atlas of biosphere reserves, endemic fish poster unveiled

TEHRAN –During a ceremony held on Thursday, the head of the Department of Environment (DOE), Shina Ansari, unveiled an atlas of the country’s biosphere reserves as well as the endemic fish poster.
Intl. congress on nanoscience, nanotechnology slated for January

TEHRAN –The tenth international congress on nanoscience and nanotechnology is scheduled to be held from January 29 to 30 in Rafsanjan, a city in the southern Kerman province.
Over 40% of wetland area exposed to drying up: DOE chief

TEHRAN –Due to low precipitation and insufficient water right allocation, some 43 percent of the wetlands of the country are subject to dryness, the head of the Department of Environment has said.

Tourism

New chapter in Tehran-Cairo relations, Iran tourism minister underlines

TEHRAN - Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, has announced a new chapter of progress in cultural relations between Tehran and Cairo following a meeting between the presidents of Iran and Egypt.
Mist-clad mountains of Arasbaran: a gem for nature enthusiasts

TEHRAN - Stretched in northwest Iran, the often mist-clad mountains of Arasbaran beckon nature lovers with their otherworldly beauty and rich cultural history.
Tehran museum showcases 180,000-year-old tooth and other archaeological discoveries

TEHRAN - National Museum of Iran has showcased a collection of the country's latest archaeological findings, including a tooth estimated to be around 180,000 years old.

International

US diplomats in Syria: A charm offensive to mislead the public

TEHRAN- The presence of a senior delegation of American diplomats in Syria along with their efforts to engage with the country’s rebel leaders primarily aims to mislead public opinion and further the US political objectives.
Ansarallah undeterred by Israeli attacks

TEHRAN – Hebrew media has shed light on the Israeli aggression on Yemen that took place on Thursday.
War and diplomacy during and after the Al-Aqsa Flood

BEIRUT - Diplomacy during times of war differs significantly from diplomacy during periods of relative calm. This is particularly true when the negotiating parties fundamentally differ in their goals and have different standards. With an enemy that achieves their goals through striking fear, one cannot rely on their goodwill, nor waste available opportunities in the hope of a mirage.

Israel watches warily as Pezeshkian’s Cairo visit raises prospects for Iran-Egypt rapprochement