Tehran Times

2026-05-08 21:15
Iran teaches Yankees a lesson

Navy responded Thursday night to a ceasefire violation by US pirates around the Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN - Iran’s strong response to US naval forces in the Persian Gulf region has once again highlighted President Donald Trump’s failed attempt to force open the Strait of Hormuz.
- Araghchi labels Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ a ‘project deadlock’
- Iran warns of ‘unprecedented’ military response if US naval blockade continues: Press TV

Pezeshkian says he met Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei

TEHRAN- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday he had met the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, in person and spoken with him for two and a half hours.
Iran FM rejects US–Bahrain resolution as 'one-sided' and politically motivated

TEHRAN - Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denounced a US–Bahrain draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a one-sided attempt to legitimize illegal military actions.
By Wesam Bahrani

Hezbollah bravely confronting IOF commando unit

TEHRAN – Hezbollah continues to mount fierce resistance against Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), inflicting losses on the regime’s military as it attempts to occupy southern Lebanon.
Iran says lasting peace, end to blockade only path to stability in Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN- Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has said that a permanent end to the war, the lifting of what Tehran describes as an unlawful maritime blockade, and the restoration of normal shipping routes are the only viable solutions for ensuring stability and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran likely to view ‘Trump Route’ through security lens: Russian envoy

TEHRAN- Sergey Kopyrkin, Russia’s ambassador to Armenia, says Iran is likely to assess the so-called “Trump Route” transportation corridor from a security perspective due to growing mistrust toward the United States following recent regional tensions and military confrontations.

Politics

Honorable, dignified negotiations are Iranians' main demand: Ayatollah Khatami

TEHRAN- Tehran’s interim Friday Prayers Leader, Ahmad Khatami, says the Iranian nation’s principal demand is for “honorable and dignified” negotiations, while praising the public’s continued support for the Islamic Establishment amid external pressure and military threats.
Bahrain intensifies crackdown with expulsion of MPs, mass citizenship revocations

TEHRAN- Bahrain has come under growing criticism after authorities expelled three lawmakers from parliament and stripped dozens of citizens of their nationality in what observers and rights advocates describe as an escalating campaign to silence dissent under the guise of national security.
Iranian psychological warfare on social media and the strategic blindness of the West

There comes a moment when an analyst must acknowledge that their conceptual tools are no longer sufficient to describe the reality they are observing. The Lego-style animations produced by the Iranian media entity Explosive Media — American warships exploding in colored plastic, Israeli aircraft turned into falling horses, figurine soldiers storming beaches under pixelated flags — represent one of those moments.

Sports

Iran’s Mohammadi and Nemati win gold and silver at IWF Junior Worlds

TEHRAN — Iran’s Hamidreza Mohammadi and Taha Nemati won a gold and silver medal respectively at the 2026 IWF World Junior Championships on Friday in the men’s +110kg division.
Hossein Abdi to lead Iran U23 head coach

TEHRAN - Hossein Abdi has been named head coach of the Iran U23 national team.
Iran’s Zare and Gholizadeh grab gold and silver at IWF Junior Worlds

TEHRAN — Iran’s Abolfazl Zare and Farhad Gholizadeh combined to deliver a standout haul at the 2026 IWF World Junior Championships on Friday, with Zare taking gold and Gholizadeh silver in the men’s 110kg division.

Culture

The union of majesty and beauty: Reem Al-Wurimi on spiritual sovereignty of Tehran

TEHRAN – In the wake of the recent US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a voice from North Africa has emerged to articulate the spiritual and civilizational resilience of the Iranian nation. Reem Al-Wurimi, the acclaimed Tunisian poet and journalist, has captivated the Islamic world with her latest work, "Take Me to the Streets of Tehran."
Iranian short film “Playground” selected for Classics section of 79th Cannes Film Festival

TEHRAN – A new Iranian short film has been selected for the Classics section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
Minab school tragedy survivor's story chronicled in new doc “Hoda”

TEHRAN – Iranian director Hamed Saadat’s documentary “Hoda” on a survivor of Minab school’s tragedy, is currently in the final stages of editing, the Documentary and Animation Center (DEFC) has announced.

Economy

Global economy faces structural shock from Iran war: Finnish economist

TEHRAN- In this exclusive interview with Tehran Times, Tuomas Malinen, Finnish economist, CEO of GnS Economics, and associate professor of economics at the University of Helsinki, examines the global economic consequences of the recent Israel–U.S. attack on Iran. Known for his work on financial instability and macroeconomic cycles, Malinen argues that the escalation represents a systemic shock extending far beyond the West Asia. He highlights rising risks in energy markets, supply chains, inflation, and sovereign debt stability. According to him, prolonged instability in the Persian Gulf region, a key energy and geopolitical hub, could intensify global uncertainty and weaken already fragile economic growth prospects worldwide.
Fragile engines of growth: Why Iran war threatens both AI, US consumer

TEHRAN- The US economy is increasingly driven by two concentrated engines, soaring AI investment and resilient consumer spending, but Bank of America warns this dual-engine setup is uniquely vulnerable to the ongoing Iran war.
Ministers investigate ways to facilitate goods unloading, clearance from ports, borders

TEHRAN- The Ministers of Transport and Urban Development and of Economic Affairs and Finance, along with their deputies, held a joint meeting to discuss strategies for facilitating the unloading and clearance of goods from ports and borders, as well as utilizing alternative corridors to supply essential goods.

Society

WMBD highlights role of community science in bird conservation

TEHRAN – Observed on May 9 and October 10, World Migratory Bird Day 2026 highlights the important role of community science (also known as citizen science) in the conservation of migratory birds.
National Health Week to be marked

TEHRAN – The national health week is scheduled to be held from May 15 to 21, under the theme ‘sustainable healthcare with science and authority, enduring Iran’.
No Matter Where, No Matter When: IRCS stands with people in crises

TEHRAN –The national red crescent week is being held from May 8 to 14, commemorating self-sacrificing members of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), who stand like a cypress, providing support to people, and saving their lives during crises.

Tourism

Beyond modern life: discovering Iran’s tribal worlds

TEHRAN - Under the vast Iranian sky, where mountains stretch into the horizon and rivers carve their way through ancient valleys, a different rhythm of life quietly endures. For travelers weary of crowded cities and hurried itineraries, tribal tourism in Iran offers something rare: a journey not only across landscapes, but into a living, breathing past.
17th Gol Ghaltan festival underway with new community-focused approach

TEHRAN - The city of Amirieh in Semnan province has launched its 17th edition of its nationally recognized Gol Ghaltan ritual, introducing a more traditional, community-based approach to the centuries-old ceremony, local officials said.
Sustainable desert tourism with educational campaign promoted in Mesr Village

TEHRAN – An educational campaign aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and protecting fragile desert ecosystems has been held in the scenic Mesr Village, which is situated in central Iran.

International

Hezbollah bravely confronting IOF commando unit

TEHRAN – Hezbollah continues to mount fierce resistance against Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), inflicting losses on the regime’s military as it attempts to occupy southern Lebanon.
America’s casino kleptocracy

TEHRAN — When asked recently about the ethical implications of political insiders gambling on war outcomes via prediction markets, Trump’s response was as blunt as it was unsurprisingly nihilistic: “The world is a casino. It is what it is.”
Rubio seeking to pacify Pope as he eyes presidency

TEHRAN - In a high-stakes diplomatic balancing act, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday. The two-and-a-half-hour meeting comes at a pivotal moment, as the Trump administration remains locked in a bitter verbal feud with the Holy See over the morality of the U.S. war on Iran.

Navy responded Thursday night to a ceasefire violation by US pirates around the Strait of Hormuz