Tehran Times

2026-04-14 20:24
Trump’s blockade forged in the ashes of strategic failure

The US military blockade on Iranian ports follows Washington's military and political failures to force Iran to succumb to its demands

TEHRAN - President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to force Tehran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz has drawn fierce criticism at home and abroad, with many warning it risks igniting a broader regional crisis and destabilizing the global economy.
- Geopolitics of Hormuz: The energy artery of the world
- Energy prices continue to surge as Hormuz Strait remains closed

By Maedeh Zaman Fashami

Spain’s break with the West: How Sánchez turned Madrid into a voice against the war on Iran

TEHRAN - The joint war the United States and Israel launched against Iran can be seen as one of the most complex and consequential geopolitical crises of the past decade. It not only reshaped the security landscape of the Middle East but also strained divisions within the Western bloc, challenged the future of the transatlantic alliance, and even placed the concept of the international order under significant pressure.
Iran, Russia presidents discuss West Asia developments

TEHRAN- Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone call to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
No deal in Islamabad due to US extortion

Holding the upper hand on the battlefield, Iran sees no reason to yield to Washington’s excessive demands

TEHRAN- US President Donald Trump has once again intensified threats against Iran following negotiations between Tehran and Washington in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, where high-level talks ended on Sunday without a deal.
By Shahrokh Saei

Hegseth faces backlash for calling the Persian Gulf the ‘Arabian Gulf’

TEHRAN - US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has come under fire after referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” in a post on X, reigniting a long-standing dispute over the internationally recognized name of the body of water.
Lascaris: Trump’s Iran policy trapped by delusions and unilateralism

TEHRAN- Political analyst Dimitri Lascaris says the Trump administration’s approach to Iran is fundamentally flawed – undermined by ideological delusions such as an obsession with maximalist pressure and a disregard for diplomatic norms.

Politics

Iran medical body identifies over 3,750 victims of US–Israeli aggression

TEHRAN – Iran’s Forensic Medicine Organization has identified 3,753 people killed in the joint US-Israeli war, the head of the body announced, amid efforts to assess the human toll of the aggression launched on February 28.
Betrayed at the table, unbroken in spirit: Iran’s path to dignified peace with US

ISLAMABAD- As a Wall Street banker with more than thirty years observing the turbulent waters of Iran-U.S. relations—from the transformative 1979 Islamic Revolution that reshaped the Middle East to the high-stakes Islamabad talks unfolding even as I write these words in April 2026—I have witnessed cycles of hope and betrayal that few other relationships can match.
Former UN expert says US responsible for failed Islamabad talks

TEHRAN- Alfred de Zayas has blamed the United States for the failure of recent negotiations with Iran, while calling on the international community to take a firmer stance against Washington’s policies.

Sports

FIBA World Cup qualifier: Iran to face Syria on June 29

TEHRAN – Iran’s postponed FIBA World Cup qualifying clash against Syria has been scheduled for June 29, though the host venue has yet to be finalized.
Iran freestyle team defend title in 2026 Asian Championships

TEHRAN – Iran freestyle team defended their title at the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships on Sunday.
2025/26 ACL Elite: Araki to officiate match between Tractor and Shabab Al Ahli

TEHRAN – Japanese referee Yusuke Araki has been chosen to officiate match between Iran’s Tractor and Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE in the 2025/26 AFC Champions League (ACL).

Culture

Iran’s culture minister warns of Trump’s arrogance following insult to Pope

TEHRAN- Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Seyyed Abbas Salehi, has issued a critique of US President Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric and self-deifying social media presence, characterizing the American leader’s behavior as a modern manifestation of the "Pharaoh complex" that historically signals the imminent downfall of tyrants.
Tehran’s Shokoufeh Cinema severely damaged during American-Zionist aggression against Iran

TEHRAN – Shokoufeh Cinema in Tehran suffered severe damage during the recent US-Israeli attacks, and it is expected that relevant officials would assist the reconstruction process, Ali Sartipi, the manager of the cinema said.
Iran Public Libraries Foundation requests IFLA to condemn US-Israeli attacks on cultural sites

TEHRAN – Following the recent military attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime on Iran's cultural and public infrastructure, Azadeh Nazarboland, Secretary-General of Iran Public Libraries Foundation, has sent a formal letter to Leslie Weir, President of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), expressing the strong protest of the Iranian librarians' community and calling for a decisive reaction from this international body.

Economy

Iran war & petrodollar’s perfect storm

TEHRAN- As tensions escalate in the Persian Gulf, a new analysis from Deutsche Bank warns that the ongoing conflict with Iran may inadvertently trigger a seismic shift in global oil markets.
Butterfly effect of energy crisis stronger than forecasts: energy expert

TEHRAN- An energy market expert stated that the butterfly effect of the energy crisis in the Persian Gulf was far more widespread than experts had predicted, demonstrating just how high the world's dependence on West Asian energy truly is.
Government support packages for war-damaged businesses to be implemented

TEHRAN- The Deputy for Economic Policy at Iran's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance has announced the implementation of a series of government support measures for enterprises and households damaged by the war, stating that planning to support businesses began in the very first weeks of the conflict.

Society

Attracting 320,000 intl. students by 2028 on agenda

TEHRAN – According to the Seventh National Development Plan (2023-2028), the country is projected to increase the number of international students to 320,000 from currently around 60,000.
Some 1,000 people rescued from under rubble in Tehran during war

TEHRAN - The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has said it successfully rescued 960 people alive from under the rubble in Tehran during the 40-day US-Israeli airstrikes.
US, Israel should be prosecuted in international courts for ecocide: DOE

TEHRAN – The head of the Department of Environment (DOE), Shina Ansari, has said that the environmental degradation caused by the US-Israel coalition during the 40-day imposed war should be prosecuted in international courts.

Tourism

The map of damage tells its own story

TEHRAN- In the span of just over a month, from February 28 to April 8, a total of 132 cultural sites, museums, and historical monuments across Iran were damaged or destroyed, largely as a result of the massive shockwaves caused by airstrikes.
Minister pledges ‘scientific restoration’ for war-torn heritage sites

TEHRAN - Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said 132 historical sites across 20 provinces were damaged during the recent war, pledging that restoration will be carried out using scientific methods and international standards.
US-bombed high bridge considered for national registration

TEHRAN – The B1 Bridge in Karaj, a major engineering project located about 45 kilometers west of Tehran, is being considered for a possible registration as a national “event site” following its partial destruction in a US airstrike during the recent conflict involving the United States and Israel, which began on Feb. 28.

International

Trump’s brazen 'Antichrist' complex meets torrent of condemnation and Pope’s defiance

TEHRAN — In the quiet, heavy hours following Orthodox Easter Sunday, the world glimpsed something far more unsettling than mere political theater. U.S. President Donald Trump, fresh from waging a campaign of aggression against Iran and issuing apocalyptic ultimatums against the Iranian people, turned his digital fury toward Pope Leo XIV.
Hezbollah’s fierce resistance as Lebanese authorities entering talks with Israel

TEHRAN – Hezbollah puts up heavy resistance against invading Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, while authorities enter direct talks with the occupation regime.
Naval blockade: A desperate, erratic and hasty decision

TEHRAN - Just hours after the talks between Iran and the U.S. in Islamabad ended on Sunday morning with a breakthrough, President Donald Trump declared a naval blockade of Iran.