Tehran Times

2026-11-14 20:13
By Seyyed Mohammad Torabi

Bet on the losing horse: Abu Dhabi's gamble in Hormuz

How UAE bankrolled a costly, risky southern corridor to break Iran's control — and failed

TEHRAN - When Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber took the screen at CERAWeek in Houston on March 23, 2026, he chose his words carefully. The Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, speaking by video link because war had closed the skies, called any disruption of the Strait of Hormuz “weaponizing” energy and “economic terrorism against every nation.”
- Iran submits response to latest US proposal, rejects compromise on enrichment rights
- UAE claims Iran behind attack as US steps up regional tensions

Iran downs 17th US MQ-1 drone, reports two tankers hit by sea mines east of Hormuz Strait

TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has shot down another US reconnaissance and combat drone over the Persian Gulf, while the Iranian Navy has reported that two oil tankers separately caught fire after striking sea mines in a restricted maritime zone east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Rosatom to increase workforce at Bushehr nuclear plant to 300

TEHRAN – Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to increase its workforce at Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant from the current 180 employees to 300 in the near future, as it moves to resume previously scheduled operations despite ongoing regional tensions.
Senior MP: Iran’s steadfastness has left US in a strategic dead end

TEHRAN – Iran’s steadfast resistance on multiple fronts has pushed the United States into a strategic dead end, with any further miscalculation by its adversaries likely to provoke an even more consequential response from Tehran, the chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said.
By staff writer

Officials’ shifting explanations deepen doubts over US airspace shutdown

TEHRAN — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded every departing flight in the country on Friday, and the public’s first explanation fit in a single phrase: a “temporary telecommunications outage.” The order began at 3:54 p.m. Eastern Time and lasted until 8:15 p.m. It left thousands of flights canceled and a government that has spent months promising a modernized air traffic system, explaining why its old one failed everywhere at once.
Pezeshkian holds talks with Turkish, Brazilian and Kurdish leaders at COP31

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has held a series of meetings with his Turkish and Brazilian counterparts and the president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation, strengthening economic and trade ties, and promoting regional peace and stability.

Politics

Iran calls on US to end aggression, lift maritime blockade

TEHRAN – Iran has called on the United States to immediately end its aggression against the country, lift its maritime blockade and provide credible guarantees against further attacks, warning that any renewed US-Israeli aggression would be met with an immediate and decisive response.
Iran rejects normal IAEA inspections under abnormal conditions

TEHRAN – Iran’s Mission to the United Nations Office in Vienna has condemned resolutions adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran as legally and technically flawed, stressing that normal implementation of safeguards cannot resume under the abnormal conditions created by attacks on the country’s safeguarded nuclear facilities.
Iran demonstrated remarkable strength in two wars, says ex-FM

TEHRAN – Iran demonstrated extraordinary resilience and strength in the two imposed wars (the 12-day war and the Ramadan war), surprising the international community with its ability to withstand external pressure, former Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said.

Sports

Iran defeat Palestine at Basra tournament

TEHRAN - Iran football team defeated 10-man Palestine on Saturday at the Basra four-nation tournament.
Iran sends 70 athletes to Open SCO Cup

TEHRAN - A total of 70 Iranian athletes are representing the country at the Open Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow.
Iran are undisputed kings of beach soccer: AFC

TEHRAN - As excitement peaks for the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026, the-afc.com turns its attention to Group B, which promises to be a thriller.

Culture

Women artists explore Hadith al-Kisa through calligraphy, visual arts in Tehran

TEHRAN - An exhibition featuring more than 80 artworks inspired by Hadith al-Kisa, created by Iranian women artists, opened at the Khaneh Gallery of the Art Bureau in Tehran on Friday, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA).
Iranian film ‘The Daughter of Lady Fairy’ wins at Open Eurasian Film Award ‘Diamond Butterfly'

TEHRAN – Iranian film “The Daughter of Lady Fairy,” written and directed by Alireza Motamedi, won an award at the Second Open Eurasian Film Award “Diamond Butterfly” on November 12 in Moscow, Russia.
Iranian painter unveils two paintings commemorating Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA)

TEHRAN – Iranian painter Ali Bahreini unveiled two new paintings depicting the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on Friday, the anniversary of her martyrdom.

Economy

‘US pressures did not stop Iran’s foreign trade’

TEHRAN- The spokesman of the Trade Development Committee of the Industry, Mining and Trade House, emphasizing that US pressures have not been able to stop Iran’s foreign trade, said: Iran’s geographical capacities, economic links with neighboring countries, and the development of cooperation with trade partners such as China, Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey have made it possible for the flow of foreign trade to continue.
Tehran Chamber’s representative office in Khorgos officially opened

TEHRAN- The representative office of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) was opened in Khorgos in the presence of the president and secretary-general of the Tehran Chamber and managers of the Khorgos International Chamber of Commerce.
Damaged oil industry facilities reconstruction should be accelerated: acting oil minister

TEHRAN- The Acting Oil Minister, emphasizing the need to accelerate the reconstruction of oil industry facilities damaged in the third imposed war, said: This measure goes beyond the implementation of industrial projects; it is a national and strategic action for the sustainability of energy supply, maintaining public calm, and continuing the country’s economic activities.

Society

Iranian students shine in Open World Astronomy Olympiad

TEHRAN – An Iranian team of six students has achieved remarkable success at the fifth edition of the Open World Astronomy Olympiad (OWAO), winning six gold medals. The Olympiad took place from November 6 to 14 in Russia.
Tehran, Moscow set to convene joint ICT working group in 2027

TEHRAN – Iranian and Russian officials have agreed to hold the sixth meeting of their joint working group on information and communication technology (ICT) during the first quarter of 2027, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector.
COP31: DOE chief meets Turkish officials to expand environmental ties

TEHRAN – The head of the Department of Environment (DOE), Shina Ansari, has met with Turkish officials to discuss ways to strengthen environmental cooperation between the two countries.

Tourism

Crash site of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi named national heritage site

TEHRAN – The site where former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others were martyred in a helicopter crash in East Azarbaijan province has been officially registered on Iran’s National Heritage List, a provincial cultural heritage official announced on Saturday.
Isfahan’s pigeon towers emerge as potential World Heritage candidate

TEHRAN – Iran’s historic pigeon towers in Isfahan province could have the potential to be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status, prompting renewed calls for comprehensive documentation, comparative research and stronger conservation measures to establish their significance on a global scale.
Beyond Persepolis: Discovering Iran’s lesser-known historical and natural treasures

TEHRAN – Beyond the celebrated destinations such as Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis lies another side of Iran, one of mountain fortresses, ancient rock carvings, little-explored archaeological sites, colorful islands and remote desert villages, to name a few, where traditional ways of life endure.

International

Officials’ shifting explanations deepen doubts over US airspace shutdown

TEHRAN — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded every departing flight in the country on Friday, and the public’s first explanation fit in a single phrase: a “temporary telecommunications outage.” The order began at 3:54 p.m. Eastern Time and lasted until 8:15 p.m. It left thousands of flights canceled and a government that has spent months promising a modernized air traffic system, explaining why its old one failed everywhere at once.
Four senators threaten government shutdown unless Congress cuts off Iran war money

TEHRAN — Four Democratic senators said Thursday they will vote against any short-term spending bill that leaves President Donald Trump free to keep paying for the war on Iran, turning the December 11 funding deadline into the first real test of whether Congress will cut off a war it never authorized.
Jensen Huang’s exit leaves a much bigger story unexplained

TEHRAN — Jensen Huang built Nvidia into the indispensable supplier of the AI boom and convinced Washington that U.S. leadership depended on it. His resignation on Thursday leaves a harder question: how did a company with such political reach become the center of an export-control scandal the Trump administration supposedly failed to contain?

How UAE bankrolled a costly, risky southern corridor to break Iran's control — and failed