Tehran Times

2026-04-22 21:41
By Shahrokh Saei

US blockade dwarfed by Iranian naval power

The IRGC seized two vessels on Wednesday for 'disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz'

TEHRAN - President Donald Trump’s unilateral extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran highlights the country’s battlefield strength and lays bare the failure of US military strategy.
- Talking to pirates is neither wise nor productive

Iran’s participation in Islamabad talks contingent on securing national interests: Foreign Ministry

TEHRAN – Iran has yet to decide whether it will attend a new round of peace talks with the United States scheduled for later this week, a senior Iranian official has confirmed, as a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan hangs by a thread.
By Dr. Yasir Ali Mirza

Beyond brinksmanship: The Orientalism in Trump's Iran war cry

NEW DELHI - In a striking display of aggressive posturing amid the war on Iran, United States President Donald Trump’s apocalyptic warning of total annihilation in a prime-time television address from the White House has since been reverberating around the world. Demonstrating how his “madman attitude” has made the world more uncertain, he declared that the U.S. army would be hitting Iran “extremely hard,” if his demand of lifting the siege on the Strait of Hormuz would not be heeded by the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC).
By Garsha Vazirian

The Lidless Eye of Sauron watches us all. Are we helpless?

TEHRAN — The name "Palantir" confesses its intent so plainly that it reads less like branding and more like a manual: a candid revelation of the method by which a world is watched.
Iran urges release of commercial vessel from US ‘piracy’

TEHRAN– Iran has formally accused the United States of an act of “piracy” in the Sea of Oman, calling for the immediate release of an Iranian commercial vessel and declaring that a continued American naval blockade must be lifted before any new negotiations can resume.
Iran: Hormuz action means war, Europe's silence unacceptable

TEHRAN — Iran’s top diplomat warned on Wednesday that blockading its ports constitutes an “act of war” and a violation of a fragile ceasefire, while sharply criticizing European countries for their silence over ‘unlawful military attacks’ by the United States and Israel against Iran’s peaceful nuclear infrastructure.

Politics

Tehran denies sabotage allegations in Azerbaijan, warns of Israeli 'false flag' ops

TEHRAN – Iran’s embassy in Azerbaijan has strongly rejected accusations that Tehran is involved in sabotage activities on Azerbaijani soil, warning that such claims are part of an Israeli disinformation campaign aimed at driving a wedge between the two neighboring countries.
US military actions: An unchecked exercise of power

TEHRAN — They say the future is not singular, but plural. This is the first lesson we were forced to learn in the days of war: a future that is the byproduct of the actors' deeds; an assemblage of probabilities resulting from the superposition of daily affairs; an accumulation that only abstract thought, or perhaps someone tethered to a metaphysical reference, can perceive as a whole.
Hormuz closure a symptom of global dereliction

Some recent commentaries regarding the state of the Strait of Hormuz, while articulating a genuine global anxiety over energy security, rests upon a foundational misreading. It is not the strait that has been weaponized; it is the entire edifice of international law and economic normalcy that has been weaponized against the Iranian nation.

Sports

Iran beach soccer team defeat UAE in 2026 Sanya

TEHRAN – Iran beach soccer team defeated the UAE 5-2 in Group B of the 2026 Asian Beach Games on Thursday.
No plan for Azzurri to replace Iran at 2026 World Cup: minister

TEHRAN - The Italian sports minister, Andrea Abodi, has described a proposal for his country to replace Iran at the World Cup as “not appropriate”, rejecting any idea that the Azzurri will be granted a last-minute berth at this summer’s tournament.
2026 Asian Beach Games: Iran beat Sri Lanka

TEHRAN - Iran’s national beach handball team defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 at the 6th Asian Beach Games on Friday.

Culture

Honoring Saadi is honoring living Iranian spirit, culture minister says

TEHRAN – The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, in a message on the occasion of the National Day of Saadi Shirazi (April 21), said: “Honoring Saadi is honoring the living Iranian spirit, a spirit the world needs today more than ever.”
Iranian war drama “God of War” hits Russian streaming platform Ökko

TEHRAN- The Iranian war drama “God of War” has premiered on Ökko, one of Russia’s leading online streaming platforms, marking a new step in the international distribution of Iranian cinema, Mehr reported on Wednesday.
Iranian artist’s cartoons review US presidents’ failure in handling Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN – Iranian artist Mohammad Hossein Niroomand has compared US military presence in the Persian Gulf during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump by publishing his new cartoon about Trump’s impasse in the Strait of Hormuz and reposting an older cartoon in Kayhan newspaper.

Economy

Strategic imperative of Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN- Maximizing the use of the Strait of Hormuz's capacities is a strategic necessity for Iran. On the other hand, the legal regimes governing waterways enable countries to effectively leverage their geopolitical capacities. Rather than viewing this critical chokepoint solely through the narrow lens of toll collection, Tehran must redefine the strait as a multifaceted strategic asset.
Iran's naval blockade worsens global inflation

TEHRAN- The Secretary General of the Shipping and Related Services Association of Iran said that a naval blockade of Iran will only lead to worsening global inflation, exacerbating the global fuel shortage, and causing immense international losses for all countries.
‘US aggression has cast a shadow over global, regional food security’

TEHRAN- Iran’s Minister Agriculture, stating that American aggressions pose a serious threat to achieving the "Zero Hunger" goal, said: "The illegal war by the United States and the Zionist regime in the region has cast a shadow over global and regional food security and has disrupted the supply chain, especially in the energy fuel and fertilizer markets."

Society

‘US maritime piracy threatens lives of patients in need of vital medical services’

TEHRAN - The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the National Committee for Humanitarian Law (NCHL) have condemned the attack by US forces on an Iranian commercial vessel sailing in the Sea of Oman that was carrying essential supplies for dialysis patients, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and a threat to the treatment of patients in need of vital medical services.
Over 8,000 healthcare workers ready to provide services voluntarily: MP

TEHRAN - More than 8,000 healthcare workers have announced their readiness to provide relief and medical services voluntarily, an MP has said.
"Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must."

TEHRAN - Science is advancing faster than ever. For the first time, ending malaria in our lifetime is a real possibility. New vaccines, treatments, malaria control tools and pioneering technologies - including genetic modification of mosquitos and long-acting injectables - are in development.

Tourism

Austrian Iranologists condemn destruction of Iran’s cultural heritage at Vienna event

TEHRAN - A group of Austrian and international scholars specializing in Iranian studies have strongly condemned the destruction and damage inflicted on Iran’s cultural heritage, describing such acts as not only an assault on a single nation but a profound loss for humanity as a whole.
Isfahan official calls for combined tourism tours centered on ‘resistance tourism’

TEHRAN – A tourism official in Isfahan on Wednesday called for the design of combined tourism packages centered on “resistance tourism,” aiming to link cultural and historical attractions with sites tied to the war with US and the Zionist regime of Israel.
Discover Soubatan, scenic summer haven above the clouds

TEHRAN - Nestled in the highlands of northern Iran, Soubatan village is one of the most captivating rural destinations in Gilan province, offering a rare blend of untouched nature, traditional lifestyles, and dramatic mountain scenery.

International

The Lidless Eye of Sauron watches us all. Are we helpless?

TEHRAN — The name "Palantir" confesses its intent so plainly that it reads less like branding and more like a manual: a candid revelation of the method by which a world is watched.
Beyond brinksmanship: The Orientalism in Trump's Iran war cry

NEW DELHI - In a striking display of aggressive posturing amid the war on Iran, United States President Donald Trump’s apocalyptic warning of total annihilation in a prime-time television address from the White House has since been reverberating around the world. Demonstrating how his “madman attitude” has made the world more uncertain, he declared that the U.S. army would be hitting Iran “extremely hard,” if his demand of lifting the siege on the Strait of Hormuz would not be heeded by the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC).
Hezbollah responds to the Zionist military amid fragile truce

TEHRAN – Amid ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire with Lebanon, Hezbollah has once again responded by attacking the occupying regime’s military.

The IRGC seized two vessels on Wednesday for 'disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz'