How did a needless war become Trump's gravest economic mistake?

At the start of 2026, the US economy showed promise: 2.1% GDP growth, inflation at 2.4%. Then Trump bombed Iran.

Crude oil surged from $70 to $110 per barrel. Gasoline jumped from under $3 to $4.50 per gallon. Fertilizers, plastics, and costs spiraled. A "self-induced supply shock," said his own former Treasury economist.

Now only 32% approve of his economic performance. Polls show 57% believe the economy is worsening.

The crisis of affordability that elected Trump in 2024 has been worsened by his own policies. His needless war is a self-inflicted wound.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528257/How-did-a-needles-war-become-Trump-s-gravest-economic-mistake

Iranian missiles and drones fill Jordanian skies as regional conflict escalates

Iran's geopolitical position, capacities help SCO reinforce border security

Iran's border guard commander, Brigadier General Ali Akbar Javidan, emphasized this at the SCO Border Services meeting in Islamabad. He said Iran intends to expand security cooperation, information exchange, and combat drug trafficking, organized crime, and smuggling.

Iran can serve as a regional SCO hub for fighting narcotics—having borne heavy human and financial costs as a frontline state against Afghan-origin drugs. UNODC recently praised Iran's achievements in seizing methamphetamine shipments, highlighting the professionalism of Iranian anti-narcotics police.

Iran's role can help transform the SCO into a powerful bloc in the multipolar world.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528248/Iran-s-geopolitical-position-capacities-help-SCO-reinforce

Persian Garden: A masterpiece of water engineering, geometry and beauty

Inscribed as Iran's 13th UNESCO World Heritage site, the Persian Garden represents over two millennia of wisdom—where architecture, engineering, and philosophy merge. Its roots trace to Cyrus the Great's Pasargadae, introducing the Chahar Bagh (four-part garden) with geometric axes and controlled water flow.

What distinguishes this tradition is its sophisticated water management: qanats, channels, pools, and fountains transformed arid terrain into sustainable paradise.

The nine gardens span Iran's diverse climates—from Hyrcanian forests to central deserts. Each shares geometric precision, water as organizing feature, and harmony between architecture and nature. A living testimony to Persian civilization.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528252/Persian-Garden-A-masterpiece-of-water-engineering-geometry

🏐 Iran's U-18 volleyball team crowned Asian champions

Iran's national U-18 boys' volleyball team defeated Japan 3-1 in their final match to win the Asian Championship title.

Baghaei: US seeks to control Strait of Hormuz

🔹Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Article 5 of the Islamabad MoU explicitly emphasizes management of the Strait of Hormuz in consultation with Oman and regional countries, but the US is ignoring this agreement to take control of this strategic waterway.

🔹Baghaei emphasized that Iran's recent restrictive measures in the Strait are a responsible response to prevent aggressors from exploiting the waterway to attack Iran.

🔹"Iran believes the root of instability in the region lies in joint US-Israeli interventions, which consistently reproduce war and violence," he added.

German police violently arrest a pro-Palestine demonstrator for protesting against weapons exports to Israel.

The day I experienced solidarity and social unity

As a Red Crescent volunteer at the martyred Leader's farewell ceremony, I witnessed something beyond duty—genuine kindness. Municipal staff treated their roles as obligations, but the people showed solidarity through every gesture.

When I booked a taxi, the driver refused payment for the extra distance: "It's my gift to hardworking Red Crescent volunteers." A woman shared her prayer mat with me and insisted I rest.

Throughout the day, ordinary people revealed the nobility of their spirit—not through slogans, but through quiet acts of generosity.

The true asset of any society is its people, who give living meaning to compassion and unity.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528287/The-day-I-experienced-solidarity-and-social-unity

🔴 Baghaei: Destroying civilian infrastructure and boasting about it echoes terrorist group behavior

🔹Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, in a post on X, condemned US Secretary of War's proud display of footage showing the collapse of Chabahar's maritime surveillance tower—a civilian facility for maritime safety, struck for the third time on July 25.

🔹"Had he been able, he would likely have broadcast the missile attack on Minab school and Lamerd stadium massacres with the same chilling pride," Baghaei wrote. He also noted last night's attack on power and desalination pumps at Bonji village in Jask, leaving over 10,000 people without drinking water.

🔹"With every collapsed bridge and civilian facility, it is not just steel and concrete crumbling—it is America's moral standing, international law, and Western civilization's foundations that are collapsing," he added.

🔹"The question is simple: What is the real difference between what the US has done in Chabahar, Minab, Lamerd, and Jask, and the terrorism it once claimed to fight?"

Iran Leader: US breaches prove American signature worthless; Iran has unforgettable lessons for enemy

In a message on the epic farewell to Iran's martyred Leader, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Khameni stated that the US's repeated violations of the MoU signed between the presidents of Iran and America have once again proven the invalidity of the American president's signature.

"The Great Satan's breaches of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding demonstrate that bullying, hegemony, and savagery are inseparable components of the American creed," he said.

He added that the US has once again revealed its true face, providing yet another document of American dishonesty, unreliability, and malice.

"As the US seeks escalation and further humiliation, it should know that the Iranian nation and the resistance front have unforgettable lessons in store—as demonstrated by the bravery of combatants and the courage of the people in the southern regions," the Leader emphasized.

📸 Two girls, Sogand Dardmand and Fatemeh Zahra Akbari, were among the seven civilians killed in the US airstrike on the bridge in Khomir, southern Iran.

Iran's national biology and chemistry Olympiad teams shine on world stage 🌟

🔹Iran's national chemistry Olympiad team secured 3 silver medals and 1 bronze at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2026) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan , competing against over 350 students from 90 countries. 🌍🧪

🔹Iran's national biology Olympiad team also excelled at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2026) in Vilnius, Lithuania , winning 3 gold medals and 1 silver. 🥇🥈🧬

Mahsa Shakibaei and Samira Khak-Khah, two Iranian judokas who secured gold and bronze medals at the Asian Judo Championships, dedicated their achievements to the people of southern Iran amid ongoing US aggression and attacks on Hormozgan province .

The role of Makran's coastal dwellers in Iran's maritime border defense

Throughout history, the Baloch people of Makran have stood as guardians of Iran's southern coasts—resisting foreign incursions long before they were formally recognized in historical records.

When Portuguese colonizers arrived in the 16th century, the Baloch fought relentlessly. Their cooperation with the Safavid state under Shah Abbas proved decisive in expelling the Portuguese from Hormuz and other islands. Baloch riflemen and sailors participated in key campaigns, and their sustained resistance prevented Portugal from establishing permanent strongholds along the Makran coast.

Had it not been for their resistance, Iran's southern borders would have faced a far more entrenched colonial presence.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528277/The-role-of-Makran-s-coastal-dwellers-in-Iran-s-maritime-border

Satellite imagery shows damage to fighter jet shelters at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base following Iranian missile strikes.

IRGC intercepts, destroys US MQ-9 drone over Ahvaz

🔹The IRGC announced that an MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down moments ago over Ahvaz by an advanced air defense system operated by the Aerospace Force under the country's integrated air defense network .

IRGC Navy forces recover wreckage of downed US MQ-9 drone in Asaluyeh

🔹The IRGC has released images showing the recovery and collection of the wreckage from an American MQ-9 Reaper drone, which was shot down over the Asaluyeh region in Bushehr province .

IRCS urges international community to hold US accountable for targeting civilian facilities

The Iranian Red Crescent Society head, Pirhossein Kolivand, condemned US attacks on civilian infrastructure—including wheat storage, water facilities, desalination plants, ports, railways, airports, and hospitals. These deliberate strikes disrupt access to food, water, health, and communication.

Ambassador Iravani detailed strikes across 15 provinces and cities, stating: "The US commits heinous war crimes against the Iranian people in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law."

He urged the Security Council to act immediately. "As long as the UN fails, Iran will continue to exercise all its rights under international law to protect its sovereignty and people."

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528274/IRCS-urges-intl-community-to-hold-US-accountable-for-targeting