Se-Kuh-e Fortress: A Window into Iran’s Sistan Heritage 🏰

Located near Zabol, Se-Kuh-e fortress—“three mountains”—is the largest mud-brick stronghold in Sistan-Baluchestan. This national heritage site rises from ancient riverbed formations, showcasing traditional Sistani architecture with barrel vaults and domed roofs.

Under Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, it became a strategic bulwark against British expansionism. In 1852, Sardar Ali Khan Sarbandi raised the Iranian flag here, symbolizing loyalty and resistance.

Beyond bricks, the fortress echoes local legends of a bottomless well and minted coins. Se-Kuh-e stands as a living testament to Iran’s resilience, cultural memory, and architectural genius—a must-see for every heritage traveler. 🏰🇮🇷

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/525387/Se-Kuh-e-fortress-offers-window-into-Iran-s-Sistan-heritage 🔗

‼️Donald Trump claimed in an interview with the New York Post that negotiations with Iran could resume within the next two days in Pakistan. 🇵🇰

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that the positions of Spain, China, Russia, Turkey, Italy, and Egypt in opposing warmongering and the Zionist regime's crimes are rooted in their cultural and historical standing. 🌍🕊️🏛️

First direct Lebanon-Israel talks in decades held in Washington – US calls it 'historic opportunity'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio:

🔹 "We have a historic opportunity regarding Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Washington. Complexities will not be resolved in the next six hours, but we can begin moving forward and establishing a general framework."

🔹 This is the first direct negotiation between the Zionist regime and Lebanon in decades.

18 mostly European countries condemn Israeli attacks on Lebanon

🔹 The foreign ministers of 18 mostly European nations issued a joint statement condemning Zionist regime attacks on Lebanon and warning of the consequences of continued conflict.

🔹 They emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation and a move toward a political solution in Lebanon.

🔹 The statement welcomed the start of Lebanon-Zionist regime negotiations, stating: "We urge both sides to seize this opportunity. Direct talks can pave the way for lasting security for Lebanon, Israel, and the region."

Unprecedented global solidarity with Iran's heroic defense against US-Israeli aggression will never be forgotten: Iran FM spox 🌍🇮🇷

Esmaeil Baghaei appreciated millions worldwide – from Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon to Japan, Cuba, even the US – who rallied in support of Iran's heroic defense against brutal US-Israeli aggression.

Lebanon's president says Israeli aggression has displaced over one million Lebanese

🔹 President Joseph Aoun told the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that Zionist regime aggression has displaced more than one million Lebanese citizens.

🔹 He emphasized that Lebanon requires urgent aid, particularly as the consequences of displacement will continue even after a ceasefire.

The map of damage tells its own story

From February 28 to April 8, airstrike shockwaves damaged or destroyed 132 cultural sites, museums, and historical monuments across Iran. The destruction spans 17 provinces and 26 cities—but nearly half (61 sites) is concentrated in Tehran alone. Hard-hit landmarks include the Grand Bazaar, Marble Palace, and Sepahsalar Mosque. Isfahan follows closely, with Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Chehel Sotoun Palace, and Abbasi Friday Mosque among the damaged. Together, Tehran and Isfahan account for over 64% of all cases. Historical houses (33 total), mosques, palaces, and even the tomb of poet Baba Taher have suffered. When cultural heritage offices themselves become targets, the line between collateral and intentional blurs. This is not random—it is the erosion of cultural memory.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/525446/The-map-of-damage-tells-its-own-story

Iran calls on IFLA to condemn US-Israeli attacks on cultural sites

Iran Public Libraries Foundation has formally requested the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) to explicitly condemn US and Israeli military attacks on Iran's cultural infrastructure. Secretary-General Azadeh Nazarboland's letter to IFLA President Leslie Weir reports that 62 public libraries have been damaged—two in Zanjan and Dehloran completely destroyed. The attacks, described as a clear violation of the 1954 Hague Convention, target "fundamental cultural, educational, and social infrastructures." Iran urges IFLA to go beyond general statements and become a strong international voice for damaged libraries. The assault began February 28, killing Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and many civilians. A two-week ceasefire began April 8.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/525442/Iran-Public-Libraries-Foundation-requests-IFLA-to-condemn-US-Israeli

📰 The full version of the newspaper is available in the PDF file here.

‼️ Tehran Times Exclusive:

Trump’s ‘support for Iranians’ masks economic warfare and narrative manipulation: Senior analyst

In an interview with the Tehran Times, senior analyst Elijah J. Magnier argues that Trump’s rhetoric of “supporting the Iranian people” is not a contradiction to sanctions—it is a strategy.

This posture decouples U.S. pressure from its human consequences, reframing economic strangulation as a “necessary byproduct” of helping Iranians. Sanctions are designed to generate public distress and social volatility. Endorsing protests weaponizes internal dissent as an auxiliary pressure tool.

Magnier warns this approach violates causal accountability, endangers protestors, and entrenches permanent conflict. The result is persistent instability, not democratic change—a coercive narrative laundered as solidarity.


https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/523067/Trump-s-support-for-Iranians-masks-economic-warfare-and-narrative

Trump's brazen 'Antichrist' complex meets torrent of condemnation and Pope's defiance

After branding Pope Leo XIV as "WEAK on crime," Trump shared an AI image of himself as a messianic healer—framed by B-21 bombers with a Baal-like shadow looming overhead. Global backlash was swift: Italy's PM Meloni called it "unacceptable," Catholic bishops expressed dismay, and even MAGA figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene cited an "Antichrist spirit." Pope Leo declared he has "no fear" of the White House. The deleted post, critics say, reveals a Faustian bargain—power through destruction. With U.S. strikes killing thousands in Iran and Gaza, Trump's attack on peace signals a rejection of any moral law above American-Israeli hegemony.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/service/international

✍By Kurosh Alyani

A flag in the heart of the night: When "home" enters the square

During the darkest nights of US-Israeli terror against Iranian civilians, city squares transformed—not into chaos, but into a large family. Flags in green, white, and red spin through the air as prayers, chants, elegies, and laughter merge. People drink tea together, melting the cold terror of the enemy with affection. As missiles strike nearby, they shout "Allahu Akbar" with unwavering calm.

Women are the driving force—not opposing men, but reclaiming society's foundational power. They manage logistics, cook food, brew tea, and provide psychological safety with a smile. This is the "most feminine movement of resistance," turning military spaces into human ones.

Under a single flag, life refuses to bend—offering the world a nation calm and joyful amid turmoil.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/525458/A-flag-in-the-heart-of-the-night-When-home-enters-the-square