Tehran Times

2026-11-14 20:13
By Seyyed Mohammad Torabi

Bet on the losing horse: Abu Dhabi's gamble in Hormuz

How UAE bankrolled a costly, risky southern corridor to break Iran's control — and failed

TEHRAN - When Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber took the screen at CERAWeek in Houston on March 23, 2026, he chose his words carefully. The Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, speaking by video link because war had closed the skies, called any disruption of the Strait of Hormuz “weaponizing” energy and “economic terrorism against every nation.”
- Iran submits response to latest US proposal, rejects compromise on enrichment rights
- UAE claims Iran behind attack as US steps up regional tensions

Iran downs 17th US MQ-1 drone, reports two tankers hit by sea mines east of Hormuz Strait

TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has shot down another US reconnaissance and combat drone over the Persian Gulf, while the Iranian Navy has reported that two oil tankers separately caught fire after striking sea mines in a restricted maritime zone east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Rosatom to increase workforce at Bushehr nuclear plant to 300

TEHRAN – Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to increase its workforce at Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant from the current 180 employees to 300 in the near future, as it moves to resume previously scheduled operations despite ongoing regional tensions.
Senior MP: Iran’s steadfastness has left US in a strategic dead end

TEHRAN – Iran’s steadfast resistance on multiple fronts has pushed the United States into a strategic dead end, with any further miscalculation by its adversaries likely to provoke an even more consequential response from Tehran, the chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said.
By staff writer

Officials’ shifting explanations deepen doubts over US airspace shutdown

TEHRAN — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded every departing flight in the country on Friday, and the public’s first explanation fit in a single phrase: a “temporary telecommunications outage.” The order began at 3:54 p.m. Eastern Time and lasted until 8:15 p.m. It left thousands of flights canceled and a government that has spent months promising a modernized air traffic system, explaining why its old one failed everywhere at once.
By Ali Minabi

From the battlefield to the ballot box: war comes home

TEHRAN – Western leaders assumed they could keep the Palestinian bloodshed, the flames of war in Iran, and the resulting costs far removed from their own societies.

Politics

Iran calls on US to end aggression, lift maritime blockade

TEHRAN – Iran has called on the United States to immediately end its aggression against the country, lift its maritime blockade and provide credible guarantees against further attacks, warning that any renewed US-Israeli aggression would be met with an immediate and decisive response.
Iran rejects normal IAEA inspections under abnormal conditions

TEHRAN – Iran’s Mission to the United Nations Office in Vienna has condemned resolutions adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran as legally and technically flawed, stressing that normal implementation of safeguards cannot resume under the abnormal conditions created by attacks on the country’s safeguarded nuclear facilities.
Iran demonstrated remarkable strength in two wars, says ex-FM

TEHRAN – Iran demonstrated extraordinary resilience and strength in the two imposed wars (the 12-day war and the Ramadan war), surprising the international community with its ability to withstand external pressure, former Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said.

Sports

Iran’s performance at Dakar Youth Olympics was satisfactory, official says

TEHRAN - Hamid Azizi, chef de mission of Iran’s delegation at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, has expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the country’s athletes, while stressing that comparing Iran’s final standing with its previous appearance at Buenos Aires 2018 would not be a fair assessment.
Iran’s youthful reset needs a bigger test

TEHRAN - Iran’s 2-0 victory over Palestine in Basra offered encouraging signs of a generational transition, but it also exposed a familiar weakness: the national team still need greater attacking variety and, more importantly, stronger opposition to measure their progress.
My goal is to compete at 2028 Olympics: Shahshahani

TEHRAN - Young Iranian swimmer Parsa Shahshahani has described winning a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games as a major achievement, while setting his sights on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Culture

Women artists explore Hadith al-Kisa through calligraphy, visual arts in Tehran

TEHRAN - An exhibition featuring more than 80 artworks inspired by Hadith al-Kisa, created by Iranian women artists, opened at the Khaneh Gallery of the Art Bureau in Tehran on Friday, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA).
Iranian film ‘The Daughter of Lady Fairy’ wins at Open Eurasian Film Award ‘Diamond Butterfly'

TEHRAN – Iranian film “The Daughter of Lady Fairy,” written and directed by Alireza Motamedi, won an award at the Second Open Eurasian Film Award “Diamond Butterfly” on November 12 in Moscow, Russia.
Iranian painter unveils two paintings commemorating Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA)

TEHRAN – Iranian painter Ali Bahreini unveiled two new paintings depicting the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on Friday, the anniversary of her martyrdom.

Economy

‘US pressures did not stop Iran’s foreign trade’

TEHRAN- The spokesman of the Trade Development Committee of the Industry, Mining and Trade House, emphasizing that US pressures have not been able to stop Iran’s foreign trade, said: Iran’s geographical capacities, economic links with neighboring countries, and the development of cooperation with trade partners such as China, Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey have made it possible for the flow of foreign trade to continue.
Tehran Chamber’s representative office in Khorgos officially opened

TEHRAN- The representative office of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) was opened in Khorgos in the presence of the president and secretary-general of the Tehran Chamber and managers of the Khorgos International Chamber of Commerce.
Damaged oil industry facilities reconstruction should be accelerated: acting oil minister

TEHRAN- The Acting Oil Minister, emphasizing the need to accelerate the reconstruction of oil industry facilities damaged in the third imposed war, said: This measure goes beyond the implementation of industrial projects; it is a national and strategic action for the sustainability of energy supply, maintaining public calm, and continuing the country’s economic activities.

Society

MOP38: Iran urges stronger global efforts to safeguard ozone layer

TEHRAN – Iran has called for continued international cooperation to protect the ozone layer, with Hossein Shahbaz, head of the country’s Ozone Layer Protection Unit, highlighting Iran’s active role in phasing out ozone-depleting substances.
Iranian young experts win nine medals at BRICS Future Skills Contest

TEHRAN – A 12-member Iranian team of young technology experts has won nine medals, including two gold, three silver, and four bronze, at the 2026 BRICS Hi-Tech Future Skills Competition in Russia, securing the highest medal tally among participating teams.
Iran proposes establishing Avicenna consortium in co-op with Tajikistan, Afghanistan

TEHRAN – The Iranian headquarters for developing traditional medicine and medicinal herbs has proposed the establishment of a trilateral consortium named after Abu Ali Sina (Avicenna), in cooperation with Tajikistan and Afghanistan, to foster scientific, technological, and innovative collaborations in the health sector.

Tourism

Araghchi: Provincial diplomacy can boost intl. arrivals and handicraft exports

TEHRAN – Iran’s provincial diplomacy could help attract more foreign tourists, expand medical tourism and boost handicraft exports through stronger cross-border cooperation with neighboring countries, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.
Iranian ambassador, foreign diplomats visit tourism attractions in Iraq’s Dhi Qar

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadegh, joined a delegation of around 70 Arab and foreign ambassadors and diplomats on a visit to the historical and tourism attractions of Iraq’s southern Dhi Qar province on Saturday.
Semnan handicrafts exhibition showcases Iran’s tribal arts and traditions

TEHRAN – A major handicrafts exhibition in Semnan is showcasing the traditional crafts, local products and cultural heritage of artisans from across Iran, with more than 150 booths and nine Siah-Chadors -- traditional nomadic tents -- set up as part of the event.

International

Officials’ shifting explanations deepen doubts over US airspace shutdown

TEHRAN — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded every departing flight in the country on Friday, and the public’s first explanation fit in a single phrase: a “temporary telecommunications outage.” The order began at 3:54 p.m. Eastern Time and lasted until 8:15 p.m. It left thousands of flights canceled and a government that has spent months promising a modernized air traffic system, explaining why its old one failed everywhere at once.
From the battlefield to the ballot box: war comes home

TEHRAN – Western leaders assumed they could keep the Palestinian bloodshed, the flames of war in Iran, and the resulting costs far removed from their own societies.
Efforts to encircle the resistance bloc within its borders

LONDON – In response to the transformations that could give Iran and its allies greater room to expand their influence, the United States and its allies are not standing idle. Another front in this confrontation involves attempts to weaken the resistance bloc from within and restrict the room for maneuver available to forces aligned with it in each country.

How UAE bankrolled a costly, risky southern corridor to break Iran's control — and failed