‼️ Exclusive interview

From burning Sardis to bombing Tehran: What Rubio got wrong about Persia

Historian Touraj Daryaee tells the Tehran Times that Rubio's Athens speech is built on a false premise—the Persian Wars were not East vs. West. He notes Athens burned Sardis in 489 BCE before Xerxes retaliated, and that Greece and Iran borrowed from each other. He accuses Rubio of ignoring Western atrocities while invoking ancient glory to justify war.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/530928/From-burning-Sardis-to-bombing-Tehran-What-Rubio-got-wrong-about

From Athens to Anger

Rubio's Athens speech drew sharp Iranian backlash. Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei called it a "manipulated and distorted version of history" to justify war. Velayati noted the contradiction of praising Greek steadfastness while calling Iranian resilience a "death cult." Zarif said it recycles Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" theory—turning Islamophobia into Iranophobia.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/530933/From-Athens-to-Anger

Yemen hits Riyadh airport again as Saudi flights collapse

Riyadh's airport was struck again Saturday, two days after Yemeni missiles killed three Saudis there, halting traffic and evacuating the terminal. Nearly 45% of scheduled Riyadh departures were cancelled, and airlines suspended service. Sanaa calls it an "airport-for-airport equation" after Saudi strikes on Sanaa's airport. Over 200,000 have been displaced since September.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/530944/Yemen-hits-Riyadh-airport-again-as-Saudi-flights-collapse

Violating supertanker ablaze after hitting naval mine in Hormuz

🔹The IRGC Navy announced a violating supertanker carrying crude oil struck a naval mine in a designated high-risk area while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorized route.

🔹The vessel had turned off its navigation systems. It is now burning in a massive fire visible to coastal residents.

🔹"Such a fire is the fate of any violating tanker that ignores the security and rules of the Strait of Hormuz."

IRGC Navy: Massive fire is the fate of any violating tanker that ignores Strait of Hormuz rules

Araghchi calls for recognizing ecocide as an independent international crime

🔹Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the "Ecocide: The Silent War Crime" conference that environmental destruction in armed conflicts is inseparable from the right to life, health, food security, and future generations' rights.

🔹He cited damage in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, noting UNEP confirmed attacks on Iranian oil facilities released hazardous compounds affecting air, soil, and water.

🔹Araghchi called for recognizing ecocide as an independent international crime, urging stronger legal frameworks, impartial documentation mechanisms, and regional cooperation for reconstruction.

🔹"Nature has no voice at the negotiating table or in war—it is our responsibility not to let its silence cost humanity's future."

Eslami: IAEA failed to support peaceful use of nuclear energy

🔹AEOI head Mohammad Eslami denounced the IAEA for failing to fulfill its duty to support the peaceful use of nuclear energy, accusing it of yielding to US and Zionist pressure.

🔹Citing President Pezeshkian's UNGA remark—"the bomb is in Israel, while the inspectors are in Iran"—Eslami said it exposed the contradictions in the international approach to nuclear issues.

🔹He said the post-WWII legal framework has been "largely paralyzed by US unilateralism," with Washington withdrawing from arrangements whenever they fail to serve its interests.

🔹"Peaceful nuclear energy belongs to all nations. The IAEA has failed for years toward Iran, instead pursuing policies aimed at slowing our progress."

Gen.Rezaei: US expelled from Iraq after defeat against Iran

🔹SNSC Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the US military was expelled from Iraq after suffering defeat against Iran, stressing that "many powers greater than the US tried to conquer Iran, but ended up in the dustbin of history."

🔹He noted that over 30 million Iranians have registered for the "Janfada" campaign and are ready to defend the country against US aggression.

🔹"Iran will not return to previous diplomatic norms, but will never leave diplomacy," he added.