Kermanshah among West Asia’s oldest human settlement areas, researcher says

Kermanshah is one of the oldest known human settlement areas on the Iranian Plateau and West Asia, with evidence dating back one million years, researcher Mohsen Derekeh said. Abundant water, favorable climate, and the Zagros mountains made it an early habitat. Key sites include Bisotun Cave (excavated by Carlton Coon in the 1940s), Warwasi Rock Shelter (with Neanderthal and modern human tools), and Wezmeh Cave (yielding a Neanderthal child's tooth, 40,000–70,000 years old). Recent work continues to reveal early occupation evidence. Derekeh emphasized that studying Kermanshah's prehistoric sites is essential to understanding human settlement across the region.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528653/Kermanshah-among-West-Asia-s-oldest-human-settlement-areas-researcher

The South Caucasus: The Persian Gulf of Eurasia's future?

This analysis argues that recent events—Ukraine's attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, NATO's Ankara summit, and strikes on energy infrastructure—signal the emergence of a new security geography across Eurasia. The author contends that the Caspian Sea is becoming part of NATO's strategic reach through Ukraine, just as Russia extends influence to Bab al-Mandab via Iran. The South Caucasus is no longer merely a regional crossroads but a new fault line in great power competition. Regional states must recognize that they are choosing not just economic corridors but their future security geography—whether as bridges for cooperation or frontlines of geopolitical rivalry between major powers.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528650/The-South-Caucasus-The-Persian-Gulf-of-Eurasia-s-future

🔴 Iran condemns US-Saudi aggression against Iraq, Arbaeen pilgrims

🔹The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US and Saudi attacks on Iraqi territories, including facilities of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—an official Iraqi security institution—and stations serving Arbaeen pilgrims, as a "blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as Article 2(4) of the UN Charter" .

🔹At least 20 PMF members were martyred and 32 wounded in the strikes across multiple Iraqi provinces, which were confirmed by CENTCOM as a joint operation against Iran-aligned targets following drone attacks on US forces and Saudi oil infrastructure .

🔹Tehran extended condolences to the Iraqi people and reaffirmed full solidarity with the government and nation, holding the US and its regional allies fully responsible for the consequences of these "criminal, inhumane, and provocative acts" .

🔴 Iraq's Islamic Resistance: Dozens martyred, wounded in attack on Imam Hussein (AS) pilgrims' servants

🔹The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that a US-Saudi attack targeted members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and a convoy serving pilgrims at the shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) in Karbala, resulting in dozens of casualties .

🔹The PMF confirmed at least 20 of its members were killed and 32 wounded in strikes across multiple Iraqi provinces, including Karbala, Basra, and Nineveh .

🔹"We give the Iraqi government until Safar 23 to demonstrate its ability to defend the country," the Resistance stated, according to IRNA.

🔹"Even if we accept their claim that the attack originated from Iraq, is it logical to retaliate by killing and wounding innocent people?"

The time has come for Bahrain's liberation

This opinion piece argues that Bahrain's Al Khalifa monarchy is an "occupational tribal garrison" ruling over a Shia-majority population (up to 70%) through containment, with mass citizenship revocations (including 10 toddlers), torture in Jau Prison, and suppression of religious practices. It claims Bahrain serves as a US/Israeli military launchpad, hosting the Fifth Fleet and normalizing ties with Israel against popular will. The author proposes three post-monarchy scenarios: Saudi annexation (rejected), independent republic, or autonomous association with Iran. Justice for alleged crimes is demanded, with calls for military tribunals. The piece concludes that liberation would remove foreign military footholds and align Bahrain with the Resistance Front.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528699/The-time-has-come-for-Bahrain-s-liberation

🔴 Army Commander: We will defend Iran's soil to the last drop of blood

🔹In a message marking the martyrdom of Brigadier General Second Pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed in action against US aggressors during an operation on Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base, Chief Commander Major General Amir Hatami declared :

🔹"Martyr Kazemi and his comrades are the true heroes of the Iranian nation. Iran's sky has always been the arena of men who shield the nation with their lives."

🔹He stressed: "The Army remains steadfast in its covenant with the nation and will defend the Islamic Republic, Iran's soil, and its independence against aggressors to its last breath."

Iraqi resistance: Our response to America is on the way—perhaps in Saudi Arabia

A joint U.S.-Saudi attack on Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) locations martyred at least 20 PMF members and five Iranian IRGC advisors. Iraq condemned the strikes, with Prime Minister Al-Zaidi canceling a Saudi visit. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq vowed a "harsh response," stating: "Our response to America is on the way—perhaps in Saudi Arabia." Saudi Arabia blamed Iraq for drone attacks on its oil facilities, despite Yemen's Ansarullah claiming responsibility. Iraqi officials revealed arrests of Ukraine-affiliated groups operating in Iraq, raising false-flag possibilities. The strikes have unified Iraqi factions against Riyadh, with calls to review U.S. security agreements and expel foreign forces.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528707/Iraqi-resistance-Our-response-to-America-is-on-the-way-perhaps

Nature in the crossfire of climate inaction and wars

This commentary argues that climate change is worsening due to fossil fuel interests, political denialism, and public negligence—with Spain's PM calling denialism "the worst of fuels." It highlights droughts displacing millions in Iran and Afghanistan, while wars accelerate emissions: the US-Iran and Ukraine-Russia conflicts, plus Israel's Gaza war (estimated at 33 million tons of CO₂e), add to environmental damage. The piece criticizes Trump's rollback of climate policies and Germany's delay of climate neutrality to 2050. It concludes that Earth suffers from corporate greed, geopolitical rivalries, military-industrial interests, and willful ignorance—with nature caught in the crossfire of inaction and conflict.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528700/Nature-in-the-crossfire-of-climate-inaction-and-wars