Tehran Times

Netanyahu and the approaching election With elections under two months away, Netanyahu is fighting for survival—seeking to keep his coalition united and avoid war crimes prosecution. Polls show a new right-wing party could split his base. To distract from the October 7 failure and the inconclusive Iran war, he may escalate in the West Bank, Gaza, or Lebanon. Analysts note his challenger Eisenkot is equally hawkish—regime policy may not change. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529636/Netanyahu-and-the-approaching-election

UKMTO reports security incident in Strait of Hormuz, two killed 🔹A tanker was struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz, with UK Maritime Trade Operations confirming two crew members have died .

Trump's 'help is on the way': the TOEFL ban edition The US has suspended General License G, halting TOEFL and GRE testing in Iran—and Duolingo tests are also blocked. IELTS was already cancelled in January. Iranian students now face travel abroad just for language exams. The science minister called it "Stone Age behavior," noting such sanctions target ordinary citizens, not officials. As one user put it: "This only affects the common Iranian person." https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529630/Trump-s-help-is-on-the-way-the-TOEFL-ban-edition

4,600-year-old board game, decorated bone comb unearthed at Burnt City Archaeologists at Iran's UNESCO-listed Burnt City have discovered a 4,600-year-old board game, an engraved bone comb, and well-preserved organic remains including eggshell, textiles, and leather. The finds offer new insights into social life, entertainment, and craftsmanship during the third millennium BC. The comb has no known counterpart in the region, suggesting ties with Central Asia. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529622/4-600-year-old-board-game-decorated-bone-comb-unearthed-at-Burnt

Ghalibaf: Iran, Resistance on same path against US-Israeli aggression 🔹Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told a Hamas official that Iran and the Axis of Resistance share a unified path against the US and the Zionist regime. 🔹"We don't reject negotiation—it's a tool for struggle. The day we stop fighting is defeat," he said, noting the MoU focused on ending the war against Iran and its allies. 🔹He added that even US-aligned governments now admit America causes regional insecurity, and that the Strait will reopen only when the US fulfills its commitments. 🔹Hamas's official said: "Many countries were surprised, but we knew the enemy would face defeat against Iran."

Iran, Kyrgyzstan review proposal for joint oil refinery construction Iran and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to jointly study building an oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan, with Iran supplying crude and sharing the output. The proposal was reviewed positively on the SCO summit sidelines. The partnership could expand into joint investment, technical services, and marketing. Kyrgyzstan also invited Iranian companies to explore its oil fields. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529577/Iran-Kyrgyzstan-review-proposal-for-joint-oil-refinery-construction

‼️ Exclusive: Spectrum: Trump’s So-Called ‘Economic D-Day’ Fizzles

SNSC secretary: Your foundation will be shattered 🔹Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran's new strategy—spanning the battlefield, diplomacy, and economic resistance—will soon "shatter" the enemy's foundations. 🔹He dismissed recent US military and economic moves as "flailing," stating: "With these struggles, not only will you not escape the hell you've built for yourselves, but you will soon see how Iran's approach will break your foundation."

Baghaei: US attack on Sirik wedding shows America's moral collapse 🔹 Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei condemned the US attack on a wedding ceremony in Sirik, describing it as "another sign of America's moral collapse." 🔹 "The reality of the illegal US war against Iran was on display last night in Sirik—where a wedding was bombed in a desperate attempt to hide America's defeat," he said. 🔹 Baghaei added: "The reality is the crimes America commits, not the AI-generated videos that falsely portray US officials as ethical heroes and victors."

New LEGO animations show the US strikes on a wedding ceremony in Kuhestak, Sirik, south of Iran.

Iran war becomes Trump's biggest political liability heading into midterms Six months into the Iran war, Trump's approval has sunk below 40%, with 68% disapproving of his war handling. Polls show 55% now view the campaign as a mistake, and 71% blame it for rising living costs. Even 16% of his own 2024 voters say they'd change their vote. As one analyst put it: "The war in Iran is a political disaster for Trump." https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529606/Iran-war-becomes-Trump-s-biggest-political-liability-heading

Karaftou Cave: A timeless sanctuary of history, art, and faith in western Iran Karaftou Cave in Kordestan province is a remarkable complex of natural and hand‑cut chambers, blending prehistoric, Hellenistic, and Islamic layers. Its famous Greek inscription—"Herakles resides here"—and Parthian‑era rock art, including "Parthian shot" motifs, make it unique. The site has been added to UNESCO's tentative list, though preservation remains urgent. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529597/Karaftou-Cave-A-timeless-sanctuary-of-history-art-and-faith

📸 Five killed, dozens wounded in US strike on wedding in southern Iran

IRGC: Two tankers hit mines after illegal transit; double punishments ahead 🔹Two oil tankers placed under US control struck mines and caught fire after attempting illegal transit through the Strait. 🔹The IRGC warned of "double punishments" for shipping companies that fall for US deception and place vessels under enemy control. 🔹"US intimidation—including attacking a wedding—won't work. Our control over the Strait remains absolute."

4 IRGC Aerospace forces martyred in US strike in Kermanshah 🔹The IRGC Kermanshah Public Relations announced that four combatants of the IRGC Aerospace Force were martyred in a brutal attack by the US terrorist regime.

Ghalibaf: America's actions mirror Satan; it is the Great Satan Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reacted to the recent US strike on a wedding in Kuhistak, drawing a parallel to previous attacks on Minab school and Lamard sports hall. 🔸 Minab school: children massacred. 🔹 Lamard sports hall: youth slaughtered. 🔸 Kuhistak wedding: children killed alongside their families. He stated: "If a power acts like Satan, targets like Satan, and kills like Satan—that power is Satan. And if it shields a smaller Satan that does the exact same things, then it is the Great Satan itself.

Army launches drone strikes on US base in Bahrain 🔹Iran's Army announced it carried out heavy drone strikes on radar facilities and troop gathering centers of the US terrorist forces at the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain, as part of the 29th phase of Operation Saegheh. 🔹The base is one of the most important and sensitive US facilities in the Persian Gulf region, serving as a key maintenance hub for helicopters and drone parts . 🔹The strikes were in response to US aggression against southern regions of Iran . 🔹"The Army's combatants will deliver a crushing response to the aggressors and avenge the martyrs," the statement read.

Which American weapon caused the Lamerd massacre on day one? An Airwars investigation reveals that the US likely used its new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) in populated areas of Lamerd on Feb 28, killing at least 21 civilians—including seven children. The weapon disperses thousands of metal pellets over a wide radius, with damage documented up to 170 meters from impact. Experts question its legality in civilian areas. The US denies responsibility. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529608/Which-American-weapon-and-how-caused-the-Lamerd-massacre

IRGC: US Marine base in Jordan struck by ballistic missiles, large number of American forces killed The IRGC Public Relations announced that in response to a US airstrike on a residential home in Sirik—which killed and wounded nearly 50 civilians, including a child—Iran's aerospace forces launched a second wave of punitive operations. Ballistic missiles hit the US Marine base known as Camp Titeen on the Gulf of Aqaba coast in Jordan, destroying facilities and attack helicopters and killing a large number of American forces. The IRGC added that retaliatory operations will continue.