Tehran Times

2026-05-02 21:56
Trump’s piracy doctrine

The US president admits American naval forces act like ‘pirates’

TEHRAN - At a rally in Florida on Friday, President Donald Trump sparked outrage by describing the recent US Navy operation that seized an Iranian-flagged vessel as piracy. Trump recounted the operation, in which US forces took control of the ship and its cargo, including oil, saying, “We land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business. We’re like pirates.”
- US shifts goalposts as Iran stands unyielding
- US blockade dwarfed by Iranian naval power

Trump treats Vietnam-era War Powers law as a paper tiger

TEHRAN - President Donald Trump said Friday that a ceasefire with Iran removes the need for congressional authorization of US military operations, a position that has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats who argue he is effectively treating a cornerstone war-limiting law as irrelevant.
By Xavier Villar

The UAE, OPEC, and the collapse of the Persian Gulf order

MADRID - The United Arab Emirates' decision to leave OPEC was presented by Abu Dhabi as a strategic move toward greater energy autonomy. The reality tells a different story. This departure represents the tacit acknowledgment of a deeper geopolitical defeat: the end of a decades-long project in which the Persian Gulf monarchies attempted to construct a regional order that excluded Iran. What we are witnessing is the collapse of the security architecture that has defined the Persian Gulf since 1981.
By Garsha Vazirian

The war on Iran broke the NATO protection racket

The war exposed a legacy of American control that stretches back to the shadows of Operation Gladio

TEHRAN — The 2026 U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has incinerated the 70-old myth of Atlantic solidarity. What was sold to the world for decades as an ironclad shield has been exposed as a hollow ritual, sustained by habit and propaganda but incapable of surviving a genuine collision with reality.
Iran’s top diplomat steps up talks with France, Russia, and S. Korea to end war

TEHRAN- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a series of diplomatic consultations with his French and Russian counterparts as efforts intensify to bring an end to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
IRGC: 14 personnel martyred in ordnance clearance explosion in Zanjan

TEHRAN – Fourteen members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) were martyred and two others injured after an explosion occurred during a mine and unexploded ordnance clearance mission in Zanjan province, according to an official statement.

Politics

Iran's Araghchi says Pentagon is lying about war costs

TEHRAN — In a series of diplomatic engagements spanning two days, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has intensified his campaign to isolate the United States internationally over its role in the recent war of aggression against the Islamic Republic, while also pointing to the mounting financial toll of the conflict on the American household.
Iran demands compensation from regional states for role in US-Israeli aggression

TEHRAN – Iran's ambassador to the United Nations has called on several regional countries to provide compensation for damages caused by their complicity in the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, asserting that these states bear international responsibility for facilitating the attacks.
Iran submits latest negotiation proposal to Pakistani mediator

TEHRAN- Iran has submitted a new negotiation proposal to Pakistan, the mediator in its talks with the United States, aimed at ending the war. The proposal was delivered on the evening of April 30.

Sports

Iran learn fate at 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championship

TEHRAN – Iran have discovered their opponents at the IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championship on Saturday.
Iranian para powerlifters to compete at Algeria Open

TEHRAN – Babak Mohammadi, head of Iran's Para Powerlifting Association, announces the women's and men's team will compete at the Algeria Open competition for the second step of qualifying for the LA 2028 Paralympics.
Hossein Khanzadeh joins Foolad for 2026 AVC Volleyball Champions League

TEHRAN – Foolad Sirjan, Iran’s renowned volleyball club, have bolstered themselves roster by signing Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh for the upcoming 2026 AVC Volleyball Champions League.

Culture

Ida Panahandeh’s new series premiered in Canneseries Festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Ida Panahandeh’s latest series had its world premiere at the 9th edition of Canneseries Festival, which was held in Cannes, France, from April 23 to 28.
Piercing gaze of innocence: Tajrish Square hosts “Eyes of Minab” installation

TEHRAN- In the heart of the bustling Tajrish Square, where the vibrant energy of the capital often conceals the quiet sorrow of recent months, a profound artistic intervention has forced passersby to pause.
16th Persian Gulf International Art & Culture Festival kicks off

TEHRAN – The 16th Persian Gulf International Art & Culture Festival was launched in Minab and Bandar Abbas counties as well as Hormuz and Bu Musa islands on Wednesday.

Economy

Hidden cost of war: How Iran conflict is crushing world’s poor

TEHRAN- When wars are reported, the focus is often on military tactics, territorial gains, or great power rivalries. But far from the battlefields, a silent and devastating crisis is unfolding, one that is pushing millions of the world's poorest people closer to starvation.
Record for transporting essential goods from ports broken during Ramadan War

TEHRAN- The Minister of Transport and Urban Development announced that the record for transporting essential goods from ports during the Ramadan War has been broken compared to the 12-day war, with a 20% increase in the clearance and unloading of goods. She also expressed gratitude for the support of the President and the efforts of public transport drivers.
Rooftop solar power plants development to be facilitated

TEHRAN- The Deputy Minister of Energy and head of the Organization for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SATBA), referring to the Ministry of Energy's policies in the field of renewable energy, said: "The development of rooftop solar power plants is one of the priorities of this ministry, and in this regard, efforts are being made to facilitate the construction process of these power plants by providing facilities to applicants."

Society

Iran, Brazil highlight preventing ITU from being politicized

TEHRAN – Information and Communication Technology Minister Sattar Hashemi and his Brazilian counterpart, Frederico de Siqueira Filho, have said the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) should not be affected by political approaches.
JANFADA conveys ‘a real image’ of Iranians to world

TEHRAN – With over thirty one million volunteers, the campaign titled JANFADA, literally meaning ‘ready to self-sacrifice’, has turned into a symbol of social solidarity, a manifestation of readiness to safeguard the country’s national security.
Science ministry pursuing legal actions against US-Israeli attacks on educational centers

TEHRAN – The head of the Organization of Student Affairs has stated that the science ministry is following up on the legal actions against the US-Israeli assaults on educational centers and the martyrdom of 175 university students.

Tourism

Iran selects ancient port of Siraf for UNESCO World Heritage nomination in 2026

TEHRAN – Iran has selected the historical port of Siraf in the southern Bushehr province as its official candidate for UNESCO World Heritage inscription in 2026, a provincial cultural heritage official said on Saturday.
Sassanian Persia’s forgotten victory: The tunnel of death in the Syrian Desert

Beneath the Syrian Desert, the Sassanian Persians engineered a subterranean battle that still raises questions among archaeologists and historians.
Iran marks Persian Gulf National Day, recalling 17th-century expulsion of Portuguese forces

TEHRAN – Iran on April 30 marked the Persian Gulf National Day, commemorating a significant moment in 1622 when Safavid forces expelled Portuguese troops from the Strait of Hormuz, an event widely regarded in the country as a milestone in the restoration of sovereignty over its southern waters.

International

The war on Iran broke the NATO protection racket

TEHRAN — The 2026 U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has incinerated the 70-old myth of Atlantic solidarity. What was sold to the world for decades as an ironclad shield has been exposed as a hollow ritual, sustained by habit and propaganda but incapable of surviving a genuine collision with reality.
The Eiffel Tower could not outshine the tears for Minab’s children

TEHRAN — The rain had softened the stones of Place du Trocadéro, but it did not dim the candles. Beneath the Eiffel Tower, hundreds gathered in Paris on April 25 for a vigil that was part mourning, part protest, and part accusation.
State visit of staged amnesia for two untouchable Epstein-era dynasts

TEHRAN — The 2026 state visit of Charles III to Washington was supposed to be a victory lap for the Western world. In reality, it felt more like a high-stakes funeral for accountability.

The US president admits American naval forces act like ‘pirates’

The war exposed a legacy of American control that stretches back to the shadows of Operation Gladio