Tehran Times

2026-08-14 20:55
By Hossein Amiri

US Claims, Iran Controls Hormuz

While Trump claims almost weekly that American forces have full control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran says it 'calls the shots'

TEHRAN - A widening dispute between Tehran and Washington over control of the Strait of Hormuz has turned the strategic waterway into a battleground not only at sea, but also in the war of narratives surrounding the conflict.
- Iran rejects IMO draft, defends legal position on Strait of Hormuz
- "Hormuz belongs to us, not foreigners," Iran says

US military loses 25% of its MQ-9 drones as stocks dwindle in Iran war

TEHRAN — The US military has suffered a 25% reduction in its MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet during the conflict with Iran, losing at least 45 aircraft valued at over $1.3 billion combined.
Araghchi accuses EU of ‘double standards’ on human rights

TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the European Union and several of its member states of applying double standards to human rights and international law, arguing that their support for Israel amid the war in Gaza and their backing of military action against Iran have undermined their credibility to criticize Tehran.
By Garsha Vazirian

‘Food Truck One,’ expandable decoys, and the propaganda ruin

TEHRAN — The official narrative survived for a month. It portrayed an American president boarding Air Force One on July 8 following a NATO summit in Ankara, waving to the cameras, and flying west. The reality was far more humiliating.
By staff writer

From Trump to Lebanon: Delusion of decision-making

TEHRAN – When politics loses touch with reality, facts can quickly give way to fiction. The Trump model offers one example; its echoes in Lebanon offer another.
Mohsen Sharifian echoes Iranians’ message of peace, friendship in Hiroshima

TEHRAN – Mohsen Sharifian, the musician and researcher of regional Iranian music, echoed the message of peace and friendship of Iranians with a musical performance in Hiroshima, coinciding with the anniversary of the atomic bombing.

Politics

Schumer urges Hegseth ouster over deteriorating USS Lincoln conditions amid Iran war

TEHRAN — Floating in the sweltering expanse of the North Arabian Sea, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has spent more than 250 days deployed and over 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call.
Iran rejects US allegations of destabilizing Yemen at UNSC

TEHRAN— Iran has rejected as “baseless and unsubstantiated” allegations by the United States that Tehran is destabilizing Yemen or has used commercial flights to Sana’a to transfer military personnel or equipment in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216.
The world after the US defeat

MADRID – The reverberations of the Forty-Day War have not ceased, and it can already be said that they have affected not only Western Asia but the entire world. The story is well known: Donald Trump launched a war expecting that American and Israeli strikes would finally do away with the Islamic Republic. Instead, he has witnessed a historic defeat for his country.

Sports

Alireza Jahanbakhsh explains why he chose Excelsior

TEHRAN - Alireza Jahanbakhsh has explained why he decided to return to the Netherlands and join Excelsior.
Olympic champion Tavakoli appointed Esteghlal weightlifting coach

TEHRAN - Olympic gold medal winner Hossein Tavakoli has been appointed head coach of Esteghlal’s weightlifting team after signing an official contract with the Tehran-based club.
Handball captain confident of medal chances at 2026 Asian Games

TEHRAN - Iran men’s national handball team captain Ali Rahimi Kazerooni believes the national side can fight for a medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, despite a difficult group and the absence of several overseas-based players.

Culture

Mohsen Sharifian echoes Iranians’ message of peace, friendship in Hiroshima

TEHRAN – Mohsen Sharifian, the musician and researcher of regional Iranian music, echoed the message of peace and friendship of Iranians with a musical performance in Hiroshima, coinciding with the anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Music fans bid farewell to traditional singer Iraj

TEHRAN - The funeral ceremony for Hossein Khajeh-Amiri, the renowned singer of Iranian music known as Iraj, was held on Friday morning in front of Vahdat Hall in Tehran, attended by a large crowd of his fans and members of the music community.
ECI to host international conference on media literacy in Tehran

TEHRAN- The ECO Cultural Institute (ECI), in cooperation with Türkiye’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), is scheduled to host an international conference on media literacy in Tehran on August 18.

Economy

Iran, Tajikistan agree on mechanism for oil product exports, crude supply

TEHRAN- Iran and Tajikistan have taken a significant step toward deepening their energy partnership, with both sides agreeing to establish a working group to examine mechanisms for exporting Iran's surplus oil products and supplying crude oil needed by Tajikistan's refineries.
Iran’s monthly oil production up 26,000 bpd: OPEC

TEHRAN- The latest report from the OPEC Secretariat, citing secondary sources, indicates that Iran's oil production in July 2026 reached 2,478,000 barrels per day, marking an increase of 26,000 barrels compared to June.
Iran, Brazil stress joint roadmap for economic cooperation

TEHRAN- The Iranian Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and Brazil's Deputy Minister of Economy met on the sidelines of the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Jaipur, India, to review cooperation capacities between the two countries. They emphasized the need for a joint roadmap to expand economic relations, support the private sector, and increase bilateral trade.

Society

DOE ready to put Caspian Sea water-level decline at center of regional talks

TEHRAN - The head of the Department of Environment has said Iran is prepared to place the issue of the declining water level of the Caspian Sea at the center of regional discussions ahead of the Caspian Sea Summit.
Ministries join hands to rebuild war-damaged healthcare infrastructure

TEHRAN - A cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening health diplomacy and rebuilding healthcare infrastructure damaged during the US-Israeli imposed war was signed on Tuesday by the ministries of health and foreign affairs.
Iranian Red Crescent Society offers health services in Ghana

TEHRAN - A one-day medical camp has been organized by the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s health center in Ghana aimed to provide free medical services to flood victims and the needy, benefiting 547 individuals.

Tourism

Four Iranian historic water structures selected for global irrigation heritage recognition

TEHRAN - Four historic Iranian water and irrigation structures -- Si-o-se-pol in Isfahan, Band-e Amir in Fars, the Shadorvan Grand Weir in Khuzestan and the historic hydraulic structures of Siraf in Bushehr -- have been selected for recognition under the World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) program of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
Alamut’s World Heritage status opens new chapter for tourism and local growth

TEHRAN - Alamut region could become a strategic hub for social cohesion, hope, tourism thrive, and local development following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a senior official at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said.
Centuries-old windmills in Tabas-e Masina undergo restoration

TEHRAN - A new phase of restoration work has begun at the historical windmills that are located in Tabas-e Masina of South Khorasan province, with funding allocated from national budgets, a local cultural heritage official said on Saturday.

International

From Trump to Lebanon: Delusion of decision-making

TEHRAN – When politics loses touch with reality, facts can quickly give way to fiction. The Trump model offers one example; its echoes in Lebanon offer another.
‘Food Truck One,’ expandable decoys, and the propaganda ruin

TEHRAN — The official narrative survived for a month. It portrayed an American president boarding Air Force One on July 8 following a NATO summit in Ankara, waving to the cameras, and flying west. The reality was far more humiliating.
A food truck, a failed war, and the humiliation of a superpower

TEHRAN - Never has a president subjected the United States to such global humiliation. It is a bitter pill to swallow for a nation accustomed to projecting strength, but the facts on the ground paint a picture of a strategic disaster of historic proportions.

While Trump claims almost weekly that American forces have full control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran says it 'calls the shots'