Tehran Times

2026-05-02 21:56
Trump’s piracy doctrine

The US president admits American naval forces act like ‘pirates’

TEHRAN - At a rally in Florida on Friday, President Donald Trump sparked outrage by describing the recent US Navy operation that seized an Iranian-flagged vessel as piracy. Trump recounted the operation, in which US forces took control of the ship and its cargo, including oil, saying, “We land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business. We’re like pirates.”
- US shifts goalposts as Iran stands unyielding
- US blockade dwarfed by Iranian naval power

Trump treats Vietnam-era War Powers law as a paper tiger

TEHRAN - President Donald Trump said Friday that a ceasefire with Iran removes the need for congressional authorization of US military operations, a position that has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats who argue he is effectively treating a cornerstone war-limiting law as irrelevant.
By Xavier Villar

The UAE, OPEC, and the collapse of the Persian Gulf order

MADRID - The United Arab Emirates' decision to leave OPEC was presented by Abu Dhabi as a strategic move toward greater energy autonomy. The reality tells a different story. This departure represents the tacit acknowledgment of a deeper geopolitical defeat: the end of a decades-long project in which the Persian Gulf monarchies attempted to construct a regional order that excluded Iran. What we are witnessing is the collapse of the security architecture that has defined the Persian Gulf since 1981.
By Garsha Vazirian

The war on Iran broke the NATO protection racket

The war exposed a legacy of American control that stretches back to the shadows of Operation Gladio

TEHRAN — The 2026 U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has incinerated the 70-old myth of Atlantic solidarity. What was sold to the world for decades as an ironclad shield has been exposed as a hollow ritual, sustained by habit and propaganda but incapable of surviving a genuine collision with reality.
Iran’s top diplomat steps up talks with France, Russia, and S. Korea to end war

TEHRAN- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a series of diplomatic consultations with his French and Russian counterparts as efforts intensify to bring an end to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
IRGC: 14 personnel martyred in ordnance clearance explosion in Zanjan

TEHRAN – Fourteen members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) were martyred and two others injured after an explosion occurred during a mine and unexploded ordnance clearance mission in Zanjan province, according to an official statement.

Politics

Spain calls for an end to war on Iran

TEHRAN- Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, has called for an end to the war against Iran and stressed the need to include Lebanon in any potential agreement.
Iran condemns deadly terrorist attack near Sayyida Zainab shrine in Syria

TEHRAN- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has strongly condemned a terrorist attack near the tomb of Sayyida Zainab (PBUH) in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which resulted in the martyrdom of the local Friday prayer leader.
Mearsheimer: Trump is desperate and foolish, no way US wins Iran war

TEHRAN- John Mearsheimer says Trump is desperate and foolish to have started this disastrous war. He predicts Trump will continue the naval blockade until forced to accept defeat because the world economy is on the edge.

Sports

Daneshdoust: Piazza a valuable opportunity for Iran volleyball

TEHRAN — Ehsan Daneshdoust, a member of Iran’s national volleyball team, believes head coach Roberto Piazza is a major chance for Iranian volleyball.
Ali Gholizadeh's 2026 World Cup dream in jeopardy

TEHRAN – Iran’s dynamic winger, Ali Gholizadeh, is facing a potential World Cup nightmare after suffering a devastating knee injury during Lech Poznań’s clash with Motor Lublin in the PKO BP Ekstraklasa Saturday night and his participation in the 2026 World Cup appears to be in serious jeopardy.
Iran not keen on Marco Octavio’s return

TEHRAN — Brazilian beach soccer coach Marco Octavio has previously expressed interest in working with Iran’s national team as a technical advisor, but the Iran Football Federation appears reluctant to cooperate with him.

Culture

Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art to hold “Art & War” event series

TEHRAN – The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMoCA) will launch a special exhibition titled “Art & War”.
Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor” to be staged in Jam County

TEHRAN – The play “The Good Doctor” written by the American playwright Neil Simon will go on stage at the Chegaseh Plateau in Jam County, Bushehr Province, late May.
Florian Zeller’s plays to be analyzed in Karaj

TEHRAN – A specialized session dedicated to examining the prominent French playwright Florian Zeller’s plays “The Father,” “The Mother,” and “The Son” will be held in Karaj by the Read With Us Cultural and Artistic Institute on Sunday.

Economy

$25bn or $1tn? Hidden price tag of America’s war on Iran

TEHRAN- As the US-Iran conflict enters its third month, a heated clash on Capitol Hill has revealed a staggering discrepancy between the Pentagon’s official figures and the projected economic reality of the war, potentially reaching $1 trillion.
Iran war: Trump's most expensive economic mistake for Europe

TEHRAN- The aggression of the American-Zionist coalition against the Iranian nation has not only transformed the military and political equations of the region but has also had deep and widespread effects on the economies of various countries, including the major economic powers in Europe that were considered Trump's allies.
Iranian engineers set 99-day record for power plant unit installation

TEHRAN – Iranian engineers have set a new record by reducing the installation and commissioning time of a large-scale Class E gas power unit to 99 days, significantly below the global benchmark of seven to eight months, a senior official said.

Society

Environmental storytelling project unveiled in memory of martyred students

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Ministry of Education unveiled on Sunday an environmental storytelling project in memory of the students martyred during the US-Israeli war against the country.
UNICEF supporting essential health services for children in Iran

TEHRAN – The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is supporting efforts to restore access to essential health services for children and families in Iran.
MMR vaccination launched in high-risk provinces

TEHRAN – The health ministry has launched the supplementary round of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in four high-risk provinces of Khuzestan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Hormozgan, and Kerman.

Tourism

Iran selects ancient port of Siraf for UNESCO World Heritage nomination in 2026

TEHRAN – Iran has selected the historical port of Siraf in the southern Bushehr province as its official candidate for UNESCO World Heritage inscription in 2026, a provincial cultural heritage official said on Saturday.
Sassanian Persia’s forgotten victory: The tunnel of death in the Syrian Desert

Beneath the Syrian Desert, the Sassanian Persians engineered a subterranean battle that still raises questions among archaeologists and historians.
Iran marks Persian Gulf National Day, recalling 17th-century expulsion of Portuguese forces

TEHRAN – Iran on April 30 marked the Persian Gulf National Day, commemorating a significant moment in 1622 when Safavid forces expelled Portuguese troops from the Strait of Hormuz, an event widely regarded in the country as a milestone in the restoration of sovereignty over its southern waters.

International

The war on Iran broke the NATO protection racket

TEHRAN — The 2026 U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has incinerated the 70-old myth of Atlantic solidarity. What was sold to the world for decades as an ironclad shield has been exposed as a hollow ritual, sustained by habit and propaganda but incapable of surviving a genuine collision with reality.
Why does Hezbollah insist on resisting Israel in Lebanon?

TEHRAN – Hezbollah follows a strategy of tactical response with a strategic objective, aimed at reshaping the rules of engagement.
Establishing equations with original allies

LONDON - A proposal was put forward by Jamil El-Sayyed, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, as a solution to what the West calls “proxies”. In reality, they are liberation forces allied with Iran within the Axis of Resistance in the region. This idea could form a framework for dealing between the extended Resistance front and the United States, in addition to the Western countries that support the Israeli occupation entity.

The US president admits American naval forces act like ‘pirates’

The war exposed a legacy of American control that stretches back to the shadows of Operation Gladio