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Tehran Times
Tehran Times
from Wikipedia

The Tehran Times is an English-language daily newspaper published in Iran, founded in 1979 as the self-styled "voice of the Islamic Revolution". While not state-owned, it is considered state-controlled and closely tied to the hardline factions within the Iranian government.[1]

Key Information

History

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The newspaper was founded by Mohammad Beheshti in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution as a self-proclaimed "voice of the Islamic Revolution".[2][3]

In 2002, the Tehran Times established a news agency which later came to be known as the Mehr News Agency (MNA). Now, the Tehran Times and the MNA are run by a single management system.

Mohammad Shojaeian took over as the new managing director of the Tehran Times and the MNA in September 2019.[4] On April 12, 2020, Shojaeian appointed Ali A. Jenabzadeh as the editor-in-chief of the Tehran Times daily newspaper.[5]

In August 2023, Tehran Times published a United States Department of State memo informing U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley of his security clearance suspension. The publication prompted calls by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for a probe into how the newspaper acquired the information.[6]

Editorial position

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Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Beheshti, second in line in the political hierarchy following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, stated: "Tehran Times is not a state-owned newspaper, rather it must be the voice of the oppressed people in the world.”[7] Although the newspaper is not state-owned, "it aims to disseminate key tenets of the Islamic Revolution and is therefore generally supportive of the Islamic Republic of Iran's ideology".[8]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Tehran Times is an English-language daily published in , , established on May 21, 1979, as the country's first such outlet to promote the perspectives and policies of the newly formed following the 1979 Revolution. Owned and funded by the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization, a state entity dedicated to advancing Islamic ideology, it functions as a government-aligned media platform that prioritizes narratives supportive of Iran's ruling establishment. The publication targets international audiences, including diplomats and business figures, offering coverage of domestic events, , and regional issues from a viewpoint that consistently critiques Western policies, particularly those of the and , while defending Iran's positions on matters such as its nuclear program and alliances with groups like . Despite its professional production—including full-color printing since 2011—it has faced scrutiny for low factual reporting standards, reliance on unverified sources, and dissemination of regime propaganda, earning designations as a questionable outlet due to and occasional conspiracy promotion. Over its history, the Tehran Times has maintained a role in countering perceived Western media dominance, positioning itself as a voice for Iran's geopolitical stance amid and isolation.

History

Founding in 1979

The Tehran Times was established in May 1979, approximately two months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution on February 11, 1979, marking it as the Islamic Republic of 's inaugural English-language daily newspaper. Its first issue appeared less than 90 days following the revolution's triumph, amid efforts to consolidate the new regime's narrative and counter portrayals. The newspaper's initial license holder and editor-in-chief was Irfan Parviz, an Indian immigrant who had settled in a decade earlier and played a pivotal role in launching operations from modest beginnings. The founding occurred under the ideological patronage of Mohammad Beheshti, a key architect of the post-revolutionary order and head of the , who envisioned the publication as a platform to amplify the revolution's voice globally. Beheshti emphasized its independence from direct government control, stating, "The Tehran Times is not the newspaper of the government; rather it is a loud voice of the Islamic Revolution and the oppressed people of the world." This purpose reflected the era's priorities: promoting Islamic governance principles, critiquing , and reaching international audiences in English to challenge dominant narratives from outlets perceived as biased against the revolution. Early production relied on a small team and limited resources, yet the newspaper quickly positioned itself as a conduit for official revolutionary updates, including statements from Imam Khomeini, while navigating the transitional chaos of institution-building in the fledgling republic. Its launch underscored the regime's strategic use of media to assert sovereignty over information flow, prioritizing empirical representation of domestic events over external interpretations.

Post-Revolutionary Expansion and Challenges

Following its establishment in , the Tehran Times expanded as Iran's inaugural English-language daily, serving as a conduit for the Islamic Republic's viewpoints amid a media landscape reshaped by the revolution. It initiated daily operations to disseminate news on domestic reforms and , filling a niche for non-Persian readership and countering perceived Western dominance in global reporting. By the , the publication had developed an archival collection documenting pivotal events, including the early consolidation of revolutionary governance. The newspaper sustained publication through the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), a period of acute resource strain for Iranian print media due to disrupted supply chains and infrastructure damage in . Despite these pressures, it marked milestones of longevity, achieving 42 years of continuous output by 2021 and 46 years by May 2025, during a attended by foreign diplomats highlighting its enduring role. remained modest, not exceeding 15,000 copies as of 2019, indicative of constraints in domestic and export markets. International sanctions, initiated by the United States in November 1979 and escalated thereafter, posed ongoing challenges by restricting imports of newsprint, inks, and digital technologies essential for media operations. These measures aimed to isolate Iranian outlets but prompted adaptations, such as emphasizing online dissemination and bilateral media ties—exemplified by expanded cooperation with international partners like Indonesia's Antara News Agency in 2025—to amplify reach beyond sanctioned barriers. While independent Iranian publications faced closures for ideological nonconformity in the early 1980s, the Tehran Times' alignment with state priorities enabled its persistence and gradual international networking.

Modern Developments (2000s–Present)

The Tehran Times sustained its operations through the political transitions of the 2000s, including the reformist era under President and the subsequent conservative shift with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election in 2005. Public records indicate limited structural changes during this decade, with the newspaper focusing on consistent daily publication amid Iran's evolving domestic and international context. Circulation remained modest, with estimates placing daily print runs below 15,000 copies. A significant operational upgrade occurred in 2011, when the Tehran Times introduced full-color printing across all pages beginning with the Iranian calendar year 1390 ( 2011), improving production quality and visual presentation. This enhancement aligned with broader trends in print media modernization, though the newspaper's print-focused model persisted despite growing digital alternatives. Into the and , the publication adapted to digital dissemination by maintaining an active online platform at tehrantimes.com and engaging on , including a account established to share content internationally. This shift facilitated wider reach beyond Iran's borders, even as domestic faced periodic restrictions and sanctions impacted media resources. By 2024, the Tehran Times marked the milestone of its 15,000th edition, underscoring over four decades of uninterrupted service as an English-language voice aligned with official narratives.

Ownership and Operations

Affiliation with the Iranian Government

The Tehran Times is owned by the Mehr News Agency (MNA), which was established by the newspaper in 2002 as its affiliated news service. The MNA, in turn, operates under the oversight of the (IIDO), a state-linked entity dedicated to promoting and supervising key media outlets in . This structure positions the Tehran Times as effectively controlled by institutions aligned with the Iranian government's ideological apparatus, rather than independent private ownership. The IIDO, also referred to as the Islamic Propagation Organization, functions as an arm of the Islamic Republic's efforts to disseminate revolutionary principles domestically and internationally, funding and directing media operations that align with official narratives. It oversees multiple outlets, including the Tehran Times and MNA, ensuring content reflects the regime's priorities, such as anti-Western rhetoric and support for Islamic governance. While the IIDO is not a direct ministry, its deep integration into Iran's theocratic system—through funding from state bonyads (foundations) and alignment with Supreme Leader oversight—renders it a conduit for governmental influence over media. Independent analyses describe the Tehran Times as a state-run entity in this context, functioning as a mouthpiece for factions within the government. Founded on May 21, 1979, shortly after the Islamic Revolution, the Tehran Times was explicitly created by —a prominent revolutionary cleric and chief—to serve as the "voice of the Islamic Revolution" in English, targeting international audiences to counter Western media portrayals. This origin ties it intrinsically to the post-revolutionary government's propaganda goals, with ongoing operations reflecting fidelity to the Islamic Republic's policies under entities like the IIDO. Editorial decisions, including coverage of and domestic events, consistently align with stances, as evidenced by its role in amplifying regime positions on issues like nuclear negotiations and regional conflicts. Critics, including Western observers, note that this affiliation results in limited autonomy, with content pre-approved or shaped to avoid dissent against the ruling establishment.

Editorial and Production Structure

The editorial leadership of the Tehran Times is headed by Editor-in-Chief Mohammad Sarfi, who directs content strategy and contributes opinion pieces, as evidenced by his bylined articles and public appearances representing the publication. Operational oversight falls to Managing Director Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, who manages administrative and collaborative functions, including international media partnerships. Detailed organizational charts or staff hierarchies are not publicly disclosed on the outlet's platform, suggesting a centralized structure typical of regime-aligned Iranian media entities with limited transparency on internal roles. Production processes support daily print and digital editions, with the newspaper transitioning to full-color printing in 2011 to enhance visual appeal for its English-language audience. The publication maintains an online presence via tehrantimes.com, featuring articles, tagged topics, and multimedia, though specifics on printing facilities or staff size—estimated to be modest given its niche focus—remain unitemized in available records. Content generation relies on in-house reporters, wire services, and occasional freelance contributors, aligned with the outlet's pro-government orientation rather than independent journalistic standards.

Content and Coverage

Primary Topics and Formats

The Tehran Times primarily covers topics aligned with Iranian national interests, including domestic politics, , , , sports, and . Domestic political reporting focuses on policies, legislative developments, and responses to , such as analyses of U.S. restrictions and their effects on Iran's resilience. International coverage emphasizes Iran's diplomatic engagements, regional stability in the and , and critiques of Western interventions, with frequent articles on nuclear negotiations, Palestinian issues, and alliances like the format for cooperation. Economic sections address oil markets, trade diversification, and domestic growth strategies, while cultural content promotes Islamic heritage, , and festivals. Sports reporting highlights Iranian athletes' achievements in events like wrestling and football, and science pieces cover advancements in and space programs. Article formats include concise news reports, in-depth features, editorials, and pieces that often interpret events through an Iranian viewpoint. Interviews with policymakers, such as foreign ministers discussing visits to or , form a staple, alongside photo essays and elements like videos of cultural events. Headlines are crafted to encapsulate ideological summaries, drawing from discursive strategies that underscore themes of and , as analyzed in linguistic studies of the outlet's output. The maintains a daily print edition since 1979, supplemented by an online platform with searchable archives, enabling broad dissemination of its content in English to international audiences.

International Reporting Focus

The Tehran Times devotes significant attention to Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly conflicts involving Israel, with frequent articles condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza and portraying them as aggressive expansions under pretexts like peace initiatives. Coverage emphasizes the plight of Palestinians and the role of the "Axis of Resistance," including groups allied with Iran such as Hezbollah and Syrian forces, framing these as defensive responses to Israeli and U.S. imperialism. For instance, reports highlight over 350 Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory targeting military assets, interpreting them as efforts to fragment Syria and advance a colonial agenda. Reporting on U.S. often critiques American involvement in regional affairs, such as alleged complicity in Israeli operations and failures to reshape the order post-October 7, 2023, events tied to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. Articles discuss 's diplomatic overtures toward the U.S., stressing negotiations on equal terms amid sanctions, while underscoring 's capabilities as demonstrations of "" following escalations like the June 2025 12-day war. This includes analyses of U.S.-Israeli coordination in strikes on , positioning as resilient against such pressures. Beyond the , international coverage addresses global power shifts, advocating for a multipolar world order where Iran's strategic position counters Western dominance, including calls for stronger UN responses to Israeli actions and partnerships with non-Western powers. Topics extend to sanctions' impacts and economic resilience, but European or Asian affairs receive attention mainly when linked to anti-imperialist narratives, such as Germany's alleged wartime roles or broader critiques of Western hypocrisy.

Editorial Stance

Alignment with Islamic Republic Policies

The Tehran Times, established in 1979 immediately following the Islamic Revolution, explicitly positions itself as a vehicle for disseminating the perspectives of the new regime, describing its mission as "to air the voice of the Islamic Revolution." This foundational role has translated into consistent editorial support for core Islamic Republic doctrines, including the principle of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the Islamic jurist) and an independent foreign policy oriented against perceived Western imperialism. For instance, the newspaper routinely endorses Iran's nuclear activities as a sovereign right for peaceful energy and deterrence, framing international sanctions as unjust aggressions that undermine Tehran's defensive posture. In coverage, the Tehran Times mirrors official stances by advocating alignment with non-Western powers and regional allies, such as praising and for opposing the "snapback" mechanism of UN sanctions against in October 2025, which Tehran deems illegitimate. It has also amplified support for Iran's "Axis of Resistance" proxies, including and Palestinian groups, portraying conflicts like the as battles against foreign-backed insurgents, with 21 out of 27 analyzed editorials from 2011–2013 explicitly favoring the Assad regime in line with Tehran's military intervention. Domestically, editorials reinforce government priorities, such as President Masoud Pezeshkian's August 2025 affirmation that all aligns with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's directives, presenting such unity as essential for national sovereignty. This alignment extends to critiques of internal or reformist deviations, often framing them as threats to principles, while promoting economic (eqtesad-e mostaqel) amid sanctions. Independent analyses characterize the outlet's output as reflecting state ideology rather than diverse viewpoints, with content structured to justify policies like restricted unless concessions favor , as seen in repeated assertions of readiness for talks only on Tehran's terms. Such patterns underscore the Tehran Times' function as an extension of narrative-building, prioritizing regime resilience over adversarial scrutiny.

Promotion of Anti-Western Narratives

The Tehran Times frequently portrays Western governments, especially the , , and their allies, as perpetrators of , , and disinformation aimed at subverting Iran's interests and the broader Muslim world. In coverage of regional conflicts, it accuses the U.S. and U.K. of enabling Israeli military actions, such as in an October 20, 2024, article condemning their "dangerous" involvement in escalations against , framing it as direct complicity in war crimes rather than defensive support. Similarly, a January 5, 2025, piece warned of regional instability from U.S.-U.K. strikes on Houthi targets, describing them as "pummeling" that ignores Palestinian solidarity efforts. This narrative extends to equating Western-backed entities with historical evils, as seen in a July 29, 2025, report quoting Iran's parliament speaker labeling and its enablers—implicitly including the U.S., U.K., , and —as "21st-century Nazis" requiring global intervention. On September 24, 2025, it amplified President Masoud Pezeshkian's assertion that the U.S. and "betrayed" diplomatic trust through attacks on tied to the Gaza crisis, portraying Western diplomacy as a facade for genocidal support. Such rhetoric consistently inverts agency, depicting and its proxies as defensive resistors against Western-orchestrated chaos. The outlet also critiques and policy as tools of empire, alleging systematic distortion of Iran's image. A February 25, 2023, analysis examined "sham reporting" by Western outlets omitting facts to demonize , positioning Tehran Times as a counter to this "." In a March 6, 2024, editorial, it accused Western coverage of Iran's of "double standards," ignoring Tehran's peace initiatives while amplifying adversarial claims. This extends to broader geopolitical framing, as in an October 21, 2025, article highlighting and Russia's "confrontation with the West" as vital for multipolarity, implicitly endorsing anti-Western alliances to erode U.S. dominance. External observers note these patterns as part of Iran's strategy to influence global opinion against Western policies, using outlets like Tehran Times to propagate narratives that challenge U.S.-led sanctions and interventions as neo-imperialism. For example, a , 2025, piece rebuked a Washington Post editorial for advocating bombings in , attributing it to a "blame entirely" bias that overlooks U.S. JCPOA withdrawal effects. On October 27, 2025, it echoed calls for the UN to designate the U.S. and as aggressors, condemning Western "" in international forums. These elements collectively reinforce a where Western actions perpetuate instability, justifying Iran's resistance and partnerships with non-Western powers.

Bias and Criticisms

Allegations of Propaganda and Poor Sourcing

The Tehran Times has been widely criticized as a vehicle for Iranian , prioritizing the dissemination of state-approved narratives over objective reporting. Media analysts rate it as a questionable source due to its consistent promotion of official positions, including anti-Western rhetoric and unsubstantiated claims that align with regime interests, such as portraying as a victim of foreign aggression without independent corroboration. This assessment stems from its origins as a post-1979 outlet designed to amplify revolutionary , functioning more as an extension of than an autonomous press. Criticisms of poor sourcing highlight the newspaper's reliance on low-credibility Iranian outlets like and Mehr News Agency, which themselves propagate government lines with minimal or diverse perspectives. Articles frequently employ —such as headlines warning that the "U.S. will become aware of ’s capabilities when it’s late"—to sensationalize threats and bolster nationalistic fervor, often lacking primary evidence or balancing counterarguments. This pattern contributes to a mixed factual reporting record, where claims about international events, like alleged Western campaigns, serve ideological goals rather than empirical verification, eroding reliability for global audiences. Independent evaluators note that such practices reflect systemic constraints in 's media environment, where state control limits journalistic independence and incentivizes echo-chamber sourcing. Allegations extend to the promotion of theories, including narratives framing Western media as orchestrators of systematic lies against , without rigorous sourcing to refute or contextualize these assertions. For example, coverage of geopolitical tensions often recycles unverified regime statements as fact, as seen in defenses of Iranian that dismiss adversarial reports as "" while offering no transparent for its own claims. These issues have led to low trust ratings from bias assessment platforms, which emphasize the outlet's failure to adhere to journalistic standards of transparency and balance, positioning it closer to than . Despite occasional professional production elements, such as since 2011, the core editorial approach undermines its credibility as an international English-language daily.

Responses to Western Media Critiques

Tehran Times frequently counters critiques of its reporting—such as allegations of serving as a outlet for the Iranian —by accusing those outlets of , selective framing, and alignment with imperialist agendas. In a , 2024, titled "The West's media mirage," the newspaper argued that Western coverage of Iran's employs " of double standards," portraying Iranian initiatives negatively while ignoring similar actions by Western allies. This response frames critiques of Tehran Times as extensions of a broader Western narrative war aimed at delegitimizing non-aligned perspectives. In response to specific accusations, such as a February 10, 2025, Telegraph article alleging secret ian nuclear activities, Tehran Times rejected the claims outright, labeling the piece a "malicious campaign" and the outlet a "tool" for anti- . Similarly, following statements in September 2025 accusing of cyber threats, the newspaper described them as a "gross of " and part of a "coordinated campaign" to justify Western sanctions. These rebuttals emphasize rejection of evidence presented by critics while redirecting scrutiny toward alleged Western fabrications. Tehran Times also positions itself as a corrective to Western "distortions" in international coverage, particularly on Iran- tensions. A June 20, 2025, article claimed aids in "engineering consensus" by providing "biased narration" that amplifies emotional appeals over factual Iranian responses. In a July 13, 2025, piece, editor Mohammad Ghaderi highlighted the newspaper's role in a "war of narratives," stating that its strategy counters Western efforts to misrepresent Iran's positions during conflicts. Such defenses invoke a relativist media landscape where Tehran Times claims to offer an authentic counterpoint, though without addressing internal sourcing constraints or state oversight. Critics of these responses, including analyses from outlets like the , argue that Tehran Times' counter-narratives recycle state lines without independent verification, mirroring the propaganda it decries in the West. Nonetheless, the maintains that Western critiques stem from discomfort with non-hegemonic voices, as evidenced in its April 26, 2025, rebuttal to portrayals of as inherently unstable, asserting instead that such depictions ignore evidence of domestic security and cultural depth. This pattern underscores a defensive posture reliant on mutual accusation rather than empirical refutation of claims against itself.

Reception and Impact

Domestic Influence in Iran

The Tehran Times, Iran's first English-language daily newspaper established in 1979, primarily influences a niche domestic consisting of English-proficient individuals such as officials, academics, university students, and urban professionals who require access to regime-aligned international reporting. Its readership demographics skew toward conservative and religious segments, reflecting the paper's affiliation with the Islamic Republic's ideological framework. This limited reach stems from Iran's , where Persian dominates media consumption, and English proficiency remains concentrated among educated elites estimated at around 20-30% of the adult population in urban areas as of recent surveys. Print circulation figures for the Tehran Times are modest and have reportedly declined amid the shift to ; unofficial estimates place it below 15,000 copies daily in the late , far lower than earlier claims of 100,000 in 2009, amid broader trends where few Iranians purchase print newspapers regularly due to high penetration exceeding 90% by 2022. Online access via its website supplements this, potentially extending influence to younger, digitally native users, though domestic readership remains secondary to its international focus and is overshadowed by state-controlled Persian outlets like . Domestically, the reinforces the government's narratives on , foreign relations, and cultural issues, serving as a conduit for official within bureaucratic and intellectual circles that interface with global affairs. This role aids in maintaining ideological cohesion among English-literate supporters of the regime, but its impact is marginal on the wider public, constrained by controls, competition from informal digital sources, and skepticism toward government-affiliated outlets amid economic pressures and restricted information flows. of broader sway is scarce, as print media overall circulates at low volumes—averaging 50,000-200,000 for popular titles—while and VPN-circumvented foreign content dominate public discourse.

International Perception and Reach

The Tehran Times is predominantly perceived in as a state-controlled outlet disseminating Iranian , with assessments highlighting its reliance on unverified claims and promotion of conspiracy theories alongside official narratives. classifies it as "Questionable" due to extreme pro-Iran , failure to adhere to journalistic standards, and frequent propagation of regime-aligned viewpoints without balanced sourcing. This perception stems from its founding in explicitly as the "voice of the Islamic Revolution," positioning it as an instrument of Tehran's rather than an independent source. In non-Western contexts, particularly among audiences sympathetic to anti-imperialist or Islamist perspectives, the garners limited but targeted reception as a counter-narrative to dominant frames on , such as in discussions of regional conflicts or U.S. policy. For instance, academic analyses have examined its framing of Saudi-Iranian relations alongside outlets like , noting its consistent emphasis on Iranian diplomatic successes and Western aggression. However, even in these circles, its credibility is undermined by opaque editorial processes tied to the Islamic Republic's oversight, contributing to broader international about Iranian . Regarding reach, the Tehran Times maintains a modest global footprint, with estimates ranging from 70,000 to 100,000 copies primarily within , though unofficial reports suggest lower actual distribution amid economic constraints on print media. Its English-language online edition, accessible via tehrantimes.com, targets international audiences but lacks verifiable metrics indicating substantial readership beyond niche diplomatic or communities; early data from 1999 reported around 3,090 daily web visitors, with no recent figures confirming significant growth to rival global outlets. The publication's influence appears confined to echo chambers in pro-Iran networks, such as forums in the Global South or Shia-majority regions, rather than mainstream international discourse, where it is rarely cited except in critiques of Iranian .

References

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