Tehran Times

2026-08-24 20:37
Trump turns to smoke and mirrors

The US president amplifies distorted claims about Qalibaf on Truth Social, using media fabrications to obscure the setbacks of his war on Iran

TEHRAN — President Donald Trump has turned to psychological warfare and media fabrications in a desperate attempt to distract from the failure of the US military and economic war against Iran.
- How Iran's unyielding stance exposed President Trump's TACO pattern
- New US bone spur

Open letter on Iranian prisoners draws criticism over its framing of war

TEHRAN- An open letter signed by a group of Western academics, writers, activists and former and current political prisoners has drawn criticism from other scholars and anti-war activists, who argue that its focus on Iran’s domestic developments risks obscuring the central issue of the conflict: the foreign military assault on the country.
Pezeshkian: Iranians highly vigilant to be deceived by enemies

TEHRAN- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asserted that the Iranian people are more vigilant than ever and cannot be deceived by their criminal and duplicitous adversaries.
Tehran warns countries supporting US military actions of consequences

TEHRAN — Iran warned on Monday that countries allowing the United States or Israel to use their military bases, facilities or equipment for operations against Iran could face consequences, as Tehran hardened its position over the ongoing regional crisis and rejected any attempt to end the conflict on terms dictated by its adversaries.
By staff writer

Israel steps up attacks on Syria hours after top Syrian diplomat meets Mossad chief

TEHRAN — Before dawn on Monday, six Israeli armored vehicles and an infantry company crossed into western Daraa, sweeping homes in the Syrian village of Ma’ariya under hovering surveillance drones before withdrawing back across the occupied Golan frontier.
Israel intensifies airstrikes, artillery shelling across southern Lebanon

TEHRAN — Israeli forces escalated their unprovoked assault on southern Lebanon through the weekend and into Monday, combining high-explosive airstrikes with systematic home demolitions and brutal scorched-earth tactics.

Politics

IRGC: Threats to Iran's infrastructure will draw heavy strikes on US vital interests

TEHRAN- Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), issued a stark warning on Monday, asserting that any US attempts to target Iran's critical infrastructure would provoke severe strategic retaliation against America's vital interests.
40th Islamic Unity Conference to be held in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad

TEHRAN — The 40th International Islamic Unity Conference will be held in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, according to the secretary-general of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.
Major General Hatami: Iran prepared to fight for generations to defend homeland

TEHRAN — Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Major General Amir Hatami said on Monday that the Iranian nation is prepared to fight for generations to come to prevent foreign adversaries from reshaping their homeland.

Sports

Iran’s women’s volleyball move up in FIVB world rankings

TEHRAN - Iran’s women’s national volleyball team have reached a historic milestone, climbing two places to No. 40 in the latest FIVB world rankings.
Iran into 2026 FIVB U17 World Championship QFs

TEHRAN – Iran beat Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25–18, 25–19, 25–21) at Round of 16 of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday.
Iran defeat Kuwait at 2026 Asian Youth Handball Championship

TEHRAN – Iran defeated Kuwait 21-18 at the 2026 Asian Youth Handball Championship on Monday.

Culture

International competition launched to design Minab school martyrs’ memorial

TEHRAN – The International Landscape and Memorial Space Design Competition for the Minab School Martyrs’ Cemetery has been officially launched, seeking to create a lasting memorial space that honors the victims, preserves their stories and conveys a message of peace and resistance.
Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council, Cinema Museum of Iran discuss mutual cooperation

TEHRAN – In an effort to develop cultural and cinematic cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey, a delegation from the Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) visited the Cinema Museum of Iran in Tehran on Saturday.
Homa Theater hosting adaptation of Jean Teulé’s book

TEHRAN – The play “The Suicide Shop,” based on the book of the same name by French novelist Jean Teulé, is on stage at Homa Theater in Tehran.

Economy

Strategic vacuum: Why is Trump's economic warfare against Iran doomed to fail?

TEHRAN- Six months into his military campaign against Iran, Donald Trump finds himself trapped in the very quagmire he promised to eliminate. What began as a boastful declaration of "decisive action" to crush Iran and effect regime change has devolved into a strategic fiasco that not only fails to achieve its objectives but is inflicting profound damage on the U.S. economy and global stability. The administration's latest gambit—announcing the "largest financial attack in history" against Iran on August 24, a self-styled "D-Day" of economic warfare—appears less a stroke of genius and more an act of desperation from a presidency with no viable strategy left.
Economy minister responds to new US sanctions: Offensive economic strategy prepared

TEHRAN – Iran's Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Seyed Ali Madanizadeh, has stated that the government has formulated an offensive economic plan to counter US sanctions against the Iranian nation.
Iran's largest solar power plant inaugurated to supply electricity to Shamsabad industrial town

TEHRAN- Iran's largest solar power plant was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, the second day of Government Week, with President Masoud Pezeshkian in attendance. The facility is designed to supply part of the electricity demand of Shamsabad Industrial Town, the country's largest industrial zone, located southeast of Tehran.

Society

Norwegian Red Cross seeks to develop co-op with IRCS

TEHRAN – The Norwegian Red Cross has expressed its readiness to expand cooperation with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) across a range of areas, including healthcare, disaster preparedness and response, training, equipment, and the exchange of expertise.
Tehran, Baghdad highlight fostering ICT ties

TEHRAN – Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Sattar Hashemi and Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Yasser Abdulzahra Al-Hajjaj have underlined the need to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the ICT sector, particularly in emerging technologies and the digital economy.
Mustafa Prize announces programs for 2026 edition

TEHRAN – The Mustafa Prize Foundation held a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday to announce the programs for the 7th edition, which is scheduled to be held in August next year.

Tourism

Tehran seeks roadmap to lift Iran-Iraq tourist exchanges to 5m

TEHRAN – Iran is seeking to increase tourist exchanges with neighboring Iraq to five million visitors in each direction within a year, Iran’s tourism minister said, calling for the goal to be turned into a detailed and measurable roadmap.
Tehran, Dushanbe open virtual exhibition highlighting shared decorative arts

TEHRAN – A joint virtual exhibition showcasing Iran’s Qajar-era tilework and Tajikistan’s traditional Kundal decorative art has opened simultaneously at the Golestan Palace World Heritage site in Tehran and the National Museum of Tajikistan.
Cultural event to spotlight Iran’s Dareshuri horse

TEHRAN – A cultural and artistic event dedicated to Iran’s Dareshuri horse is scheduled to be held in Semirom, Isfahan province, bringing together horse experts, breeders, riders, researchers and artists to promote the breed and highlight its cultural and heritage significance.

International

Iraq’s uncertain future amid America’s “withdrawal”

TEHRAN – Iraq’s political, economic, and security fragility amid mounting U.S. pressure threatens its sovereignty and stability, while placing the burden of its accumulated crises on ordinary citizens.
Israel steps up attacks on Syria hours after top Syrian diplomat meets Mossad chief

TEHRAN — Before dawn on Monday, six Israeli armored vehicles and an infantry company crossed into western Daraa, sweeping homes in the Syrian village of Ma’ariya under hovering surveillance drones before withdrawing back across the occupied Golan frontier.
Israel intensifies airstrikes, artillery shelling across southern Lebanon

TEHRAN — Israeli forces escalated their unprovoked assault on southern Lebanon through the weekend and into Monday, combining high-explosive airstrikes with systematic home demolitions and brutal scorched-earth tactics.

The US president amplifies distorted claims about Qalibaf on Truth Social, using media fabrications to obscure the setbacks of his war on Iran