Tehran Times

2026-04-21 21:48
By Shahrokh Saei

Talking to pirates is neither wise nor productive

Iran says it holds the 'upper hand' and will not allow the US to turn negotiations into a ‘surrender table’

TEHRAN - Iran has reiterated its position that it will not hold negotiations with the United States under coercion or pressure as President Donald Trump intensifies military threats against Tehran.
- US shifts goalposts as Iran stands unyielding
- Iran condemns US seizure of Touska vessel as “a terrorist act”

The components of “a strong Iran”

TEHRAN - A professor of history says having efficient, intelligent, and predictable governance structures plays a decisive role in strengthening the concept of “a strong Iran”.
Russia: US-Israeli strikes on Iran undermine NPT

TEHRAN- Russia has condemned the U.S.-Israeli military aggression against Iran, warning that the attacks have severely weakened the global nuclear nonproliferation regime and the IAEA safeguards system.
Strait of Hormuz crisis: A looming food security time bomb

TEHRAN- The world is holding its breath. With the escalation of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil passes, has effectively been closed. While the immediate crisis is measured in halted tankers and rising energy prices, the United Nations warns that the real detonation will be a "food security time bomb" felt not just at gas pumps, but in supermarket aisles worldwide.
Documents on US-Israel war crime in Minab sent to international legal bodies

TEHRAN – The judiciary department of Hormozgan Province has sent documents to international legal bodies regarding the US-Israeli crime in launching a missile attack on an elementary school in the city of Minab, killing at least 168 students on February 28.
By Garsha Vazirian

The sledgehammer that crystallized Israel’s war on Christianity

From Gaza’s bombed churches to a decapitated Jesus in Lebanon, Israel’s aggression reveals a systematic assault on the Levant’s Christian soul

TEHRAN — The image lands like a physical blow: An Israeli soldier in full uniform stands outside a family home in the Maronite Christian village of Debel, six kilometers from the border, and swings a sledgehammer straight into the head of a Jesus statue on its crucifix.

Politics

Strait of Hormuz: Man-made crisis and the plight of stranded seafarers

TEHRAN- 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships trapped in the Persian Gulf's waterway bottleneck. UN calls for immediate aid to sailors, and Qatar believes that resolving the crisis is not the responsibility of one country alone.
US estimates Iran retains 70% of pre-war missile stockpile

TEHRAN – Despite repeated claims by Washington that its war on Iran has severely degraded the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile capabilities, U.S. intelligence estimates suggest that Tehran retains access to the vast majority of its missiles and launchers, according to a report by The New York Times.
US abandoned deterrence, failed in its war on Iran: MEI analysis

TEHRAN- A detailed analysis published by the Middle East Institute (MEI) concludes that the United States abandoned deterrence as the core of its Persian Gulf strategy, leading to a failure in the war on Iran and leaving the Persian Gulf arab states worse off than before the conflict began.

Sports

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.
Minister: Iran’s World Cup presence not guaranteed

TEHRAN – In a development that could significantly alter Iran’s football landscape, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced that the national football team’s participation in the upcoming World Cup may not be a certainty.
Iran prepare for World Cup 2026 amid challenges and uncertainty

TEHRAN - Iran’s national football team have entered a decisive phase of preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, launching an intensive training program shaped by both sporting ambitions and extraordinary circumstances.

Culture

Iranian artists vow to rebuild Iran in solidarity with war-affected children

TEHRAN- A coalition of prominent Iranian cinema, theater, and music personalities gathered in Tehran on Saturday to host a solidarity event for children and families affected by the recent Ramadan War, vowing to rebuild a more beautiful Iran.
200 short documentaries produced about Ramadan War

TEHRAN – Mohsen Eslamzadeh, one of the project managers for a documentary series about the war, has announced the production of 200 short documentaries about the 40-day war that was imposed om Iran by the US and Israel.
New cinemas to be inaugurated in eight cities

TEHRAN – Eight cinemas are to be inaugurated soon in cities across Iran, which lacked movie theaters.

Economy

Strait of Hormuz crisis: A looming food security time bomb

TEHRAN- The world is holding its breath. With the escalation of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil passes, has effectively been closed. While the immediate crisis is measured in halted tankers and rising energy prices, the United Nations warns that the real detonation will be a "food security time bomb" felt not just at gas pumps, but in supermarket aisles worldwide.
‘Petro-Yuan’: A silent earthquake in global economy

TEHRAN- Simultaneously with the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf and the halt of vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, media outlets have reported on China's decision to conclude oil contracts based on the Yuan with Persian Gulf countries, a move that analysts have interpreted as a challenge to dollar hegemony and a silent earthquake in the global economy.
Iran’s trade with ECO members rises 82% in 5 years

TEHRAN – Iran has recorded an 82 percent growth in trade with members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) over the past five years, a senior trade official announced this week, reaffirming Iran's commitment to strengthening regional economic ties despite ongoing challenges.

Society

Documents on US-Israel war crime in Minab sent to international legal bodies

TEHRAN – The judiciary department of Hormozgan Province has sent documents to international legal bodies regarding the US-Israeli crime in launching a missile attack on an elementary school in the city of Minab, killing at least 168 students on February 28.
IRCS proposes an “addendum to Geneva Conventions” to limit use of AI in warfare

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has proposed the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) for an “addendum to Geneva Conventions” to limit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in warfare.
World Earth Day: war reveals bitter and contradictory reality

TEHRAN - Every year on April 22, Earth Day reminds us of the power we have to protect our planet and in 2026, that message feels more relevant than ever.

Tourism

Athens exhibit highlights damage to Iranian cultural sites

TEHRAN – An exhibition and expert panel held in Athens from April 14 to 16 focused on damage to Iranian cultural and historical sites, with organizers saying the event aimed to raise awareness in Europe about the issue and its broader implications.
Foreign ambassadors, media tour Tehran to inspect damage to civilian sites

TEHRAN – More than 50 foreign ambassadors and around 80 domestic and international media representatives toured parts of Tehran on Monday to inspect sites affected by recent attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Emergency restoration begins at damaged historic sites in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Emergency restoration work has begun on damaged historical monuments in Isfahan province, a provincial official said on Monday, following the US-Israeli attacks that affected dozens of heritage sites.

International

Iraq nears government formation breakthrough

TEHRAN – Iraq advances toward selecting a prime minister as political factions intensify negotiations following the presidential appointment.
The sledgehammer that crystallized Israel’s war on Christianity

TEHRAN — The image lands like a physical blow: An Israeli soldier in full uniform stands outside a family home in the Maronite Christian village of Debel, six kilometers from the border, and swings a sledgehammer straight into the head of a Jesus statue on its crucifix.
The rain fell, and the UAE’s house on sand is falling

TEHRAN — The United Arab Emirates had a defining choice to make, and it made the wrong one. For years, Abu Dhabi cast itself as the clever pragmatist of the Persian Gulf, a nimble trader that could glide above the region’s oldest fault lines.