Tehran Times

2025-12-07 20:10
By staff writer

Caribbean chessboard: U.S. move to check Russia and China

Is the U.S. effort to overthrow Maduro limited to Venezuela?

TEHRAN – When U.S. forces began striking vessels in the Caribbean in early September, Washington said it was fighting drug cartels. Yet almost 90 people have been killed, no narcotics have been shown as evidence, and the scale of deployment, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, makes clear this is not a routine mission.
- U.S. readies attacks on Venezuelan bases, ports, and airstrips, reports say
- ‘Power play on Venezuela’s coast is about hegemony, not drugs:’ Analyst

By staff writer

Merz’s appeasement of Netanyahu will only embolden war criminals

TEHRAN - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Israel for the first time since taking office in May. Merz’s visit comes just days after Germany decided to lift a three-month suspension on arms exports to Israel.
By Sondoss Al Asaad

Lebanon’s neutrality debate in a shifting regional context

BEIRUT — Let’s try, for a moment, to imagine a Lebanon where words mean what they say. In that alternate universe, “neutrality” would imply rejecting foreign meddling of any kind, “interference” would refer to bombing residential areas, and “sovereignty” might include the radical notion of objecting to drones overhead.
By Wesam Bahrani

The future of armed resistance in Gaza

TEHRAN – The Palestinian resistance in Gaza faces a precarious period between flimsy ceasefires and ongoing aggression.
Tehran ready for dialogue, but only after US policy shift, Araghchi says

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran remains unconvinced that the United States is prepared to engage in genuine and serious negotiations over the future of nuclear talks, while reaffirming that Tehran is ready to resume dialogue if the United States adopts a fair and balanced approach.
What Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said at his weekly briefing

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson has addressed a wide range of regional and international issues, from U.S. visa restrictions for World Cup participants to tensions in the West Asia, underscoring Tehran’s positions on sovereignty, security, and diplomacy.

Politics

Iranians appear to be growing impatient with UAE's recurring claims to Persian islands

TEHRAN – Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has called on Iran's neighbors not to test the determination of the Iranian people in safeguarding the nation's territorial integrity, including the three Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Bu Musa, reiterating that they are "an integral part of Iran."
Iran and Egypt foreign ministers discuss Gaza, bilateral ties

TEHRAN - In a telephone call on Saturday, the foreign ministers of Iran and Egypt discussed bilateral relations and the ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza. Iran’s Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty agreed to continue dialogue to develop ties between the two nations.
Terrorists arrested before Tehran metro bombing; trainer a ‘NATO officer’ residing in Sweden

TEHRAN – A number of individuals in Iran, receiving funds and training out of Europe, were arrested by intelligence forces before they could carry out the terrorist operations they had been instructed to conduct, which included the bombing of Tehran’s vast metro station, the killing of police and security forces, and the murder of random civilians.

Sports

We tested youths at 2025 IWBF Asia Oceania: Moeini

TEHRAN – Azade Sadat Moeini, head coach of Iran’s women’s wheelchair basketball team, has expressed satisfaction with her squad’s performance at the 2025 IWBF Asia Oceania Championships, recently held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Iran to play 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage on U.S. soil

TEHRAN – Iran national football team will play their group stage matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iranians win accolades at 2025 World Taekwondo U21 Championships

TEHRAN – Abolfazl Zandi of Iran was chosen the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the inaugural Nairobi 2025 World Taekwondo Under 21 Championships.

Culture

Hamedan celebrates as children’s theater festival kicks off

TEHRAN- The 30th edition of Iran’s International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults opened in Hamedan on Saturday, featuring 45 theatrical performances.
Tehran Art Fair “Open Paper” kicks off

TEHRAN – The first edition of Tehran Art Fair “Open Paper” kicked off at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon).
“Fear of Others” published in Persian

TEHRAN – The Persian translation of the book “Fear of Others” written by Christophe André, Patrick Légeron, and Antoine Pelissolo has been released in the bookstores across Iran.

Economy

Iranian, Turkish private sectors emphasize strengthening bilateral ties

TEHRAN- During the side programs of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (TCCIMA)’s delegation at the Plast Eurasia Istanbul exhibition, a meeting was held between this delegation and a group of board members and managers of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.
5,000 National Housing Movement units to be ready for delivery by March 2026

TEHRAN- The managing director of New Towns Development Company announced the company's readiness to deliver 5,000 units of the National Housing Movement Plan by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2026), stating: “Approximately 52,000 National Housing Movement units in these towns have achieved over 50 percent physical progress.”
Iran's private sector ready to play leading role in strengthening economic ties with Kazakhstan

TEHRAN- Hamed Asgari, the vice president of international affairs at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) regarding the president's trip to Kazakhstan at the head of a large trade delegation, stated: “Iran's private sector is ready to play a leading role in strengthening economic relations with Kazakhstan.”

Society

FAO holds workshop on effective use of agricultural water in Lake Urmia

TEHRAN – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in cooperation with the Governorate of West Azarbaijan Province, has held a workshop on a project titled ‘Enhancing Restoration Activities in Lake Urmia through the Effective Use of Agricultural Water’, marking the official launch of the project’s second phase.
INSF, Uzbekistan Innovative Development Agency to support joint scientific research

TEHRAN – Iran and Uzbekistan will support the implementation of 10 research projects following a joint call by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) and the Agency for Innovative Development under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Iran explores potential to develop health ties with Africa

TEHRAN – The ministries of health and foreign affairs, in a virtual meeting with Iranian ambassadors and attachés in Africa, have discussed ways to promote cooperation with African countries in the health sector.

Tourism

Elymaean rock carving discovered in southwest Iran

TEHRAN – A newly identified Elymaean rock carving has been discovered in the highlands of Kuh-e Manar in Andika, southwest Iran, according to the director of the Masjed Soleyman Cultural and Industrial Landscape National Base.
Minister urges restoration of Arak bazaar ahead of possible UNESCO review

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister said on Saturday that the historical bazaar of Arak requires urgent restoration work as the government pursues its possible inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
National document for Iran’s cultural heritage declared

TEHRAN--President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also chairman of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, declared the national document for cultural heritage, which is the result of cooperation between the country's scientific, cultural, and executive administrations.

International

Merz’s appeasement of Netanyahu will only embolden war criminals

TEHRAN - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Israel for the first time since taking office in May. Merz’s visit comes just days after Germany decided to lift a three-month suspension on arms exports to Israel.
Caribbean chessboard: U.S. move to check Russia and China

TEHRAN – When U.S. forces began striking vessels in the Caribbean in early September, Washington said it was fighting drug cartels. Yet almost 90 people have been killed, no narcotics have been shown as evidence, and the scale of deployment, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, makes clear this is not a routine mission.
Lebanon’s neutrality debate in a shifting regional context

BEIRUT — Let’s try, for a moment, to imagine a Lebanon where words mean what they say. In that alternate universe, “neutrality” would imply rejecting foreign meddling of any kind, “interference” would refer to bombing residential areas, and “sovereignty” might include the radical notion of objecting to drones overhead.

Is the U.S. effort to overthrow Maduro limited to Venezuela?