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

Golnoosh Khosravi reflects on Asian Cup journey

TEHRAN - Iran’s national women’s football team winger, Golnoosh Khosravi, has opened up about the squad’s 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign, revealing that a World Cup berth was within reach had circumstances aligned differently.
Sanya 2026: Iran beach handball start on high

TEHRAN - Iran’s national beach handball team launched their campaign at the 6th Asian Beach Games with a commanding performance, defeating the Philippines 2-0 on Tuesday.
Iran to compete at 2026 World Cup in U.S., says Infantino

TEHRAN - The Iranian men’s national soccer team were one of the first teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, an event shaping up to be FIFA’s largest yet, not only in terms of footprint and participating teams but also commercially, projected to generate upwards of $11 billion in revenue.

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

Hidden casualty of U.S.-Israeli war on Iran: Global logistics

TEHRAN- What began as targeted military strikes has rapidly escalated into a full-blown geopolitical earthquake. The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, initially framed as a strategic countermeasure, is now revealing itself as one of the most destructive events for global logistics in modern history.
Economic policy in wartime: Assessing state of mother industries & energy

TEHRAN – An economic expert has outlined the consequences of a 40-day war on Iran's mother industries and energy infrastructure, while explaining the requirements of economic policy in the current era, IRNA reported. As Iran enters a two-week ceasefire, the country's economy faces challenges after enduring a 40-day imposed war (following an initial 12-day battle).
Iran, Turkmenistan forge closer ties amid regional turbulence

TEHRAN- In a telephone conversation between Iran's Minister of Transport and Urban Development and Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, both sides stressed the strengthening of economic and transit cooperation, while Ashgabat announced the continued openness of borders and the development of joint projects.

Society

Iran ranks third among Islamic countries for scientific publications

TEHRAN – According to the recent ranking published by SCImago 2025, Iran with 77,197 scientific articles, ranks third among Islamic nations.
IRCS to act as regional rescue, relief training hub

TEHRAN – Thanks to the high capabilities of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and its remarkable achievements over the past years, particularly during the US-Israel war against the country, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has decided to choose the IRCS as the regional hub for recue and relief training, the head of the IRCS has said.
Lake Urmia’s level increases by 120cm in 7 months

TEHRAN – Since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2025), the water level of Lake Urmia has increased by 120 cm, rising from 1,269.50 to 1,270.70 meters above sea level, now, the CEO of West Azarbaijan regional water company has said.

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'