Marine Traffic: Hormuz transits continue via Iranian corridor

🔹Maritime tracking data shows Strait of Hormuz crossings dropping over 70% compared to pre-conflict levels, with all recent commercial traffic shifting to the Iranian-designated route .

🔹Eight confirmed transits were recorded—a 33% daily decline—and all used the Iranian corridor rather than the US-backed southern route .

🔹At Bab al-Mandeb, activity rose 18% to 26 confirmed crossings.

🔹No confirmed attacks on vessels have been reported.

🔴 Gharibabadi: Persian Gulf security must be ensured by regional states

🔹Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi emphasized that security in the Persian Gulf must be managed by the region's countries themselves, not by foreign powers. He stated that "Hormuz is defined under Iran's command, not CENTCOM" .

🔹Tehran has documented attacks launched from the territory of some neighboring countries and submitted them to the UN Security Council, noting that in a few cases, direct attacks have occurred.

🔹Gharibabadi added that the groundwork is ready for resuming security dialogue among Persian Gulf countries. Iran's assessment indicates regional nations have concluded that any expansion of conflict would be highly dangerous for their own security.

🔴 Baghaei: US politicians are dividing imaginary spoils before victory

🔹Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei, in a post on X, responded to US President Trump's remarks that "to the victor belong the spoils" and that the US is taking oil from Venezuela and "doing the same" in Iran .

🔹Baghaei compared this rhetoric to Joseph Heller's Catch-22, where an opportunist turns war into profit-making. He noted that before claiming spoils, one must "actually win the war—not get stuck in a strait, fall short of objectives, run low on weapons, and lose credibility."

🔹"Milo at least knew how to make a profit from war. These people are busy dividing spoils in front of the cameras before they've even laid hands on them," he wrote .

🔹His comments come amid reports that Iran has imposed "Iranian-controlled navigation plans" for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with commercial traffic shifting away from US-backed routes .

Mossad sacks architects of its failed regime change dream

Mossad chief Roman Gofman dismissed two senior officials behind a failed plan to topple Iran's Islamic Republic. The plan, reportedly based on assessments from Reza Pahlavi's meetings with Netanyahu and Mossad, expected military pressure to trigger widespread protests. However, external attacks instead bolstered national solidarity. David "Dadi" Barnea stepped down in June 2026 after a five-year term, with Gofman succeeding him. Israeli Channel 12 reported the dismissals followed failures to achieve strategic objectives regarding Iran. Mossad had established a dedicated influence operations branch in 2021, using social media and AI-generated content, but the expected political change did not materialize during the conflict.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528925/Mossad-sacks-architects-of-its-failed-regime-change-dream

Yemen flips the battlefield on Saudi Arabia

This analysis argues that Yemen has shifted to a preemptive military doctrine, no longer trading territory while enduring a siege. On August 6, Yemeni missiles and drones struck Saudi-backed forces massing in Marib and Hadramaut, killing at least 58 (Sanaa reported hundreds). A total naval embargo on Saudi shipping, triggered by a July 13 Saudi airstrike on Sanaa airport, has halved crude transiting Bab al-Mandeb and hit tankers off Yanbu. Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey—an "admission of profound structural vulnerability." The article concludes that paper alliances cannot dismantle Yemen's asymmetric capabilities, and the kingdom is now "reaping the whirlwind" of its 2015 intervention.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528922/Yemen-flips-the-battlefield-on-Saudi-Arabia

FM Araghchi to neighbors: Time to rely on ourselves and embrace true brotherhood

🔹Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a message addressing regional neighbors, stated:

🔹"Iran's powerful armed forces have proven their readiness, capability, and authority against the world's most advanced military force."

🔹"When Muslims stand united and cohesive, they can face any challenge from ill-wishing foreigners with strength and determination."

🔹"The time has come to rely only on ourselves and embrace true brotherhood."

Iran sets the tempo of the conflict

This analysis argues that Iran now controls the tempo of the conflict, holding "escalation dominance" with effective response tools at every level. The US has failed to achieve any strategic objectives (regime change, ending uranium enrichment, dismantling missile programs). After thirteen nights of US bombing, Iran responded to every strike and expanded operations to the Red Sea and Syria. Tehran sees no urgency for a ceasefire—prolonging the conflict extracts greater concessions from a US that has exhausted military options. Iran's strategic depth makes ground invasion unrealistic. Washington faces only unappealing choices: accept Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz or continue ineffective military pressure. Iran will decide "how and when it ends."

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528913/Iran-sets-the-tempo-of-the-conflict

Japan's ambassador pledges full support for Iran's participation in Nagoya

Japan's Ambassador Tsukada Tamaki pledged full cooperation to ensure Iran's sports delegation can participate in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya without complications, during a meeting with Iranian NOC President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa. Khosravi Vafa noted the Games will be unique due to the absence of a unified athletes' village and requested support on currency, accreditation, and contingency arrangements. Tamaki expressed regret over recent events, praised Iran's World Cup performance, and stated "the power of sport can transcend politics." He confirmed Iran will send over 300 athletes. The ambassador received a photo album of Iran's historic Olympic and Asian Games delegations.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528886/Japan-s-ambassador-pledges-full-support-for-Iran-s-participation

Iran, Azerbaijan agree to expand sports cooperation

Iran and Azerbaijan have agreed to strengthen sports and youth cooperation following talks between Iran's Minister Ahmad Donyamali and Azerbaijan's Minister Farid Gayibov. Key areas include sports diplomacy, increased interaction between national federations, joint training camps and competitions, exchange of coaches and athletes, and collaboration in education and talent development. Gayibov expressed Azerbaijan's readiness to broaden cooperation across sports and youth programs. The two sides stressed that closer collaboration could create new opportunities for athletes and coaches while contributing to the growth of regional sporting ties. The agreement marks another step in expanding bilateral relations beyond economic and political spheres.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528907/Iran-Azerbaijan-agree-to-expand-sports-cooperation

Iranian architects, project present at World Architecture Festival 2026

Iranian firm Nextoffice's Nedarag Guesthouse is a nominee in the Completed Buildings: Civic and Community category at the World Architecture Festival 2026 (November 18–20, Fort Lauderdale). Located in a remote Sunni-Baluch village in southeastern Iran, the non-profit project was built collaboratively with villagers over four months using handmade trusses and local Kapar typology. The design centers on a semi-open courtyard with a multi-layered roof for passive cooling. Funding totaled approximately £8,000 from the studio, a bank loan, and villager contributions. Three Iranian architects—Hamed Badriahmadi, Hooman Talebi, and Ali Nemati—are among the festival's 164 international jurors.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528911/Iranian-architects-project-present-at-World-Architecture-Festival

Ancient Iranian wind towers inspire Italian designer for overheated cities

Italian designer Danilo Petta is developing mobile wind towers inspired by Iran's centuries-old badgir (wind catchers) to cool overheated urban areas. The project, developed with Mask Architects and AQH Italy, aims to channel sea breezes into hot public spaces, potentially lowering local air temperatures by 1–2°C and perceived temperatures by up to 5°C. Petta argued that "cooling cities is not enough to simply plant more trees"—urban design must also direct airflow. Traditional Persian wind towers have been used for centuries in cities like Yazd, Kerman, and Kashan. The project highlights how ancient Iranian knowledge inspires modern climate solutions.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528895/Ancient-Iranian-wind-towers-inspire-Italian-designer-for-overheated

A blueprint for future: Revisiting South Korea's architectural legacy in Iran

This article highlights South Korea's SPACE Group—founded by architect Kim Swoo Geun—as the designer of Tehran's iconic Ekbatan Town in the 1970s, under Rahman Golzar at the Tehran Renovation and Development Company. The project blended Korean modernist philosophy with Iranian urban needs, creating a benchmark in modern residential planning that still stands today. The Iran-South Korea Joint Chamber of Commerce describes this as "one of the lesser-known pages of bilateral history" but a hopeful model of genuine technical synergy. The article argues this legacy should inspire future cooperation on infrastructure, smart cities, and sustainable development in Iran.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/528923/A-blueprint-for-future-Revisiting-South-Korea-s-architectural

Zolghadr: Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until US corrects its behavior

🔹Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated: "Until the US corrects its behavior, the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen. The Supreme National Security Council will never back down—whether in war or in negotiations."

Iran wins medals at International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence

Iranian students won a gold, two silvers, and a bronze at the 3rd International Olympiad in AI (IOAI 2026) in Astana, Kazakhstan, with over 500 students from 103 countries. Shayan Rezaeizadeh (gold), Mohammad-Reza Darvishi and Mohammad-Amin Nazmfar (silvers), and Mani Monjipor (bronze) competed in individual contests, team challenges, and the GAITE module. This follows Iran's recent successes: two golds at the Mathematical Olympiad, three golds at the Biology Olympiad, three golds at the Physics Olympiad (including the absolute winner), and a silver/bronze at the Chemistry Olympiad, as well as four medals at the Open International Geography Olympiad.

🔴 Pezeshkian: Iran's defense capabilities lie in people's resistance, not US pressure

🔹President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking at a press conference on National Journalists' Day, stated that Iran's security and defensive capabilities depend on the steadfastness and resistance of its noble people.

🔹"America is colonialist, America is criminal, and the Islamic Republic must remain—there is no doubt about this," he emphasized, stressing that Iran's position toward the US remains unchanged.

🔹Pezeshkian noted that Washington and its allies understand that "a country can no longer be forced into submission through war and missiles alone" and that internal divisions are part of their strategy.

🔹He highlighted that diplomacy compelled the US to enter into an understanding with Iran, but Washington violated the Islamabad MoU on the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran's response.

🔹"National unity and resistance remain essential to safeguarding the country's security and defense capabilities," he concluded.