Tehran Times

2026-08-19 20:12
‘Help is on the way’: From regime change to toilet repair

TEHRAN — A recent report published by the New York Post, bearing the headline "Help is on the way for Lincoln", unintentionally lays bare the profound irony, moral hypocrisy, and strategic failure defining Washington’s aggressive foreign policy toward Iran.
- Schumer urges Hegseth ouster over deteriorating USS Lincoln conditions amid Iran war

Iran’s military chief warns Persian Gulf states against facilitating US aggression

TEHRAN — Major General Ali Abdollahi, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, has warned the southern Persian Gulf states against providing support or allowing the US military to use their territory as part of its aggression against Iran.
Qalibaf in Baghdad; Iran and Iraq seek a stronger regional partnership

TEHRAN- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, August 19, for talks aimed at strengthening Tehran-Baghdad ties, with regional security, economic cooperation and the future of the region high on the agenda. His visit comes as Tehran continues to reject increased US pressure and insists that any negotiations with Washington must remain within the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Iran rejects UAE missile launch claims, cites 'false-flag' sabotage

TEHRAN — Iran has firmly denied allegations from the United Arab Emirates regarding an alleged missile launch, cautioning neighboring states against falling victim to third-party provocations designed to destabilize the region.
By Martin Love

MAGA stands for “Make America Grotesque Again”

NORTH CAROLINA - A university town in central North Carolina not too far from Washington is a fair place to get a read on the U.S. zeitgeist, especially since Trump began a grotesque kinetic war on Iran on February 28th.
By Elaheh Tahmasebi

Post-Maduro Venezuela: Washington’s lab for Latin America

TEHRAN – The ongoing transformations in Venezuela have placed the country in a state suspended between structural collapse and managed transition; a situation that neither indicates the complete downfall of the previous structure nor points to the establishment of a national and independent sovereignty.

Politics

South Korea: Trump scales back drills to pressure Seoul over Iran war

TEHRAN — South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's order to curb joint military exercises appears aimed primarily at pressuring Seoul to back US operations in the war with Iran.
Americans increasingly reject Iran war as polls show growing support for diplomacy

TEHRAN- A majority of Americans want the United States to end its war with Iran, refrain from further military action, and pursue diplomacy instead, according to a new national public opinion survey by a leading US polling organization.
Iran and the new cartography of Eurasian power

MADRID - The war in Iran has once again served as a stark reminder that what happens in East Asia, South Asia, or Russia affects Europe and the United States far more profoundly than Western powers would care to admit, particularly now that they are beginning to perceive that, in several important respects, these influences lie beyond their control.

Sports

Iran down Pakistan at 2026 FIVB U17 World Championship

TEHRAN – Iran defeated Pakistan in straight sets (25-23, 25-22, 25-18) at the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Doha, Qatar on Friday.
Iran start 2026 AVC Women Asian Continental Championship in style

TEHRAN – Iran defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1 (16-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-14) in their opening match of the 2026 AVC Women Asian Continental Championship.
Bam Khatoon , Al Nassr share spoils at AFC Women’s Champions League

TEHRAN - Bam Khatoon FC scored in the dying seconds to earn a 1-1 stalemate with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club in their AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Preliminary Stage tie on Thursday.

Culture

Ali Rahbari to conduct Mariinsky Orchestra in St. Petersburg

TEHRAN – Internationally renowned Iranian composer and conductor Ali Rahbari will take the stage on September 26 at the prestigious Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, officially marking the start of his sixth artistic season at this renowned venue.
“Minions & Monsters” to be shown at IAF

TEHRAN – The Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) in Tehran will screen the 2026 American animated period comedy film “Minions & Monsters,” directed by Pierre Coffin, on Thursday.
Theater-orchestral production “Arash” to bring Iranian legend to Tehran stage

TEHRAN- A large-scale theater-orchestral production based on one of Iran’s most enduring legends, “Arash,” is scheduled to go on stage in Tehran in September.

Economy

Iran quagmire: Trump’s failed strategy and its heavy cost

TEHRAN- Six months into the war with Iran, the Trump administration finds itself trapped in a catastrophic quagmire of its own making. What began as a show of force has devolved into a textbook case of strategic failure, with Americans paying the price at the pump and on the world stage.
Iran finalizes preferential trade agreement with Oman, sends to parliament for approval

TEHRAN- The Director-General of the West Asia Office of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) announced that the preferential trade agreement with Oman has been finalized after completing administrative procedures and has been submitted to the Parliament for final review.
Production of 10m tons of greenhouse products targeted

TEHRAN- The Deputy Agriculture Minister for Horticulture Affairs announced the targeting of 10 million tons of production in the country's greenhouse sector and emphasized the necessity of moving from traditional methods toward advanced agriculture, along with removing infrastructural obstacles and active trade diplomacy for sustainable foreign currency generation.

Society

Iran ranks first in key scientific output among Islamic countries

TEHRAN - Iran ranks first among Islamic nations in key fields of scientific output such as quantum science, cognitive sciences, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced materials, the head of the Presidential Affairs Office at the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) has announced.
Health ministry, WHO hold second workshop on applying PHC Operational Framework

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Iran have organized the second capacity-building workshop to strengthen the capacity of primary health care (PHC), targeting the health staff who had been unable to attend the first workshop on July 26.
Iranian, Iraqi universities sign MOU to foster scientific interactions

TEHRAN – Mazandaran University and Iraq’s Wasit University have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand international scientific cooperation.

Tourism

Iran urges BRICS to build resilient and sustainable tourism sector

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has called for a new definition of resilience in tourism, saying the sector should help connect nations, revive hope, support communities and contribute to lasting peace.
Iranian, Turkish officials discuss ways to diversify tourism flows

TEHRAN – Officials from Iran and Turkey has recently discussed broaden tourism cooperation by moving beyond a focus on a handful of well-known destinations and promoting the diverse attractions of their provinces to each other’s markets.
Changiz Sheykhli, ‘father of Iranian caving,’ dies at 99

TEHRAN – Changiz Sheykhli, the pioneering figure who founded Iran’s modern caving and speleology movement, died on Wednesday, August 20, in Karaj at age 99, following a period of illness.

International

MAGA stands for “Make America Grotesque Again”

NORTH CAROLINA - A university town in central North Carolina not too far from Washington is a fair place to get a read on the U.S. zeitgeist, especially since Trump began a grotesque kinetic war on Iran on February 28th.
Post-Maduro Venezuela: Washington’s lab for Latin America

TEHRAN – The ongoing transformations in Venezuela have placed the country in a state suspended between structural collapse and managed transition; a situation that neither indicates the complete downfall of the previous structure nor points to the establishment of a national and independent sovereignty.
Israeli troops shoot children and abduct medical workers in West Bank

TEHRAN — Israeli forces and settler militias are executing an aggressive campaign of violence across the West Bank.