Palestine and genocide: Redefining resilience

As Israel intensifies its Gaza assault, Palestinian resilience must be redefined—beyond bravado, mythmaking, and glorifying death. True resilience means staying, as poet Tawfiq Ziad wrote: “Here we remain.” It is the ability to turn blows into energy for building, as Ghassan Kanafani put it. Resilience is demographic, social, and national—preserving Palestinian presence from the river to the sea.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529278/Palestine-and-genocide-Redefining-resilience

Iran, Oman FMs hold phone call on regional developments, Hormuz shipping

🔹Foreign Ministers Abbas Araghchi and Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi held a phone conversation on Friday to discuss the latest regional developments and conditions for resuming dialogue, as well as developments related to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Defense Ministry spox: Iran's defense weapon production doubled in past year

🔹Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik announced that the production of defense weapons and equipment in Iran has increased twofold over the past year compared to the previous year, amid ongoing US-Israeli aggression.

🔹He emphasized that national power—including cultural, spiritual, political, scientific, social, economic, and defense dimensions—is the fundamental strategy for preserving Iran's independence, security, and national identity.

🔹"As weapons and ammunition are used in battle, they are rapidly replaced—production is ongoing simultaneously with the use of indigenous equipment," he said.

🔹The spokesman also noted that Iran has refrained from holding military exhibitions and has stopped many unveilings over the past year to "prevent vulnerabilities and surprise the enemy."

FM Spox: New US sanctions are 'colonial-era coercion,' 'act of aggression'

🔹Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that the new US sanctions go far beyond an "economic war" against Iran—they represent an attempt to impose Washington's extraterritorial sovereignty on all UN member states.

🔹He emphasized that no government has the right to force banks and businesses to cut legitimate ties with third countries, adding that these secondary sanctions have no basis in international law.

🔹"Economic intimidation to force a sovereign state to change its policies is an internationally wrongful act," he said, noting that combined with the naval blockade, it constitutes a "clear act of aggression."

🔹Baghaei warned that acquiescence to these policies would "pave the way for a return to naked colonialism" and erode the very concept of national sovereignty in the international system.

Iran finalizes preferential trade agreement with Oman, sends to parliament

Iran has finalized a preferential trade agreement with Oman after completing administrative procedures and submitted it to parliament for final review, TPOI official Abdolamir Rabihavi announced. The agreement is expected to be on the parliamentary agenda next month. The move follows 18 MoUs signed during President Pezeshkian's May 2025 visit to Muscat.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529264/Iran-finalizes-preferential-trade-agreement-with-Oman-sends

Iranian pilots held in Qatar in poor health: Gen. Bagherzadeh

Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Iranian Armed Forces' Missing in Action Search Committee, has raised the alarm over the deteriorating health of Iranian pilots being held in Qatar.

🔹The pilots, who were captured during a defensive mission in the early days of the US-Zionist war, are being kept in unsuitable conditions on the water, according to Bagherzadeh.

🔹He stressed that Qatar must transfer the prisoners to land and a fully equipped hospital as soon as possible.

🔹Bagherzadeh also called on Kuwait to respect the prisoners' rights under the Geneva Conventions and facilitate contact with their families.

Iran: Western 'economic terrorism' doomed to failure like past US campaigns

Iranian officials have dismissed Western states' latest moves as another chapter of failed economic pressure, likening them to previous US campaigns that ultimately collapsed.

🔹"Maximum pressure failed. Crippling sanctions failed. Unconditional surrender failed. This too will fail," a senior diplomat stated.

🔹Tehran maintains that economic coercion—combined with military threats—constitutes a form of "economic terrorism" and a clear violation of international law.

🔹Iran has warned that such policies will not break the nation's resolve, but rather further erode Washington's credibility and accelerate the decline of US hegemony in the region.

Ghalibaf: Neighbors ignoring Trump's hostile rhetoric, seeking new regional order

🔹Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that Iran has received "numerous messages" from neighboring countries regarding the formation of new security arrangements and economic cooperation in the region.

🔹He emphasized that the US has endangered the security of all its allies through bullying and absolute disregard for their interests, all in favor of Israel's interests, leaving them feeling their very existence was at risk.

🔹"An indigenous and independent order that will truly bring peace and security to the region," Qalibaf added.

Iranian photographers win big at Zyne International Photography Awards

Iranian photographers excelled at the 2nd Zyne International Photography Awards in India, with Amin Roshan Afshar named Photographer of the Year and winning gold in Conceptual. Iran also claimed gold in Architecture, plus multiple silvers and bronzes across categories.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529249/Iranian-photographers-win-awards-at-2nd-Zyne-International-Photography

Tehran, New Delhi seek stronger tourism co-op

Iran and India have discussed closer tourism cooperation, stronger air links, private-sector partnerships, joint UNESCO nominations and expanded medical tourism. The talks took place on the sidelines of the third BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in India. Salehi-Amiri invited his Indian counterpart to Iran and proposed a tourism cooperation memorandum. India also offered cooperation in restoring and publishing shared historical manuscripts.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529304/Tehran-New-Delhi-seek-stronger-tourism-co-op

VP: US economic pressure cannot change Iranian nation's will

🔹First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the government will not allow US economic terrorism to target economic stability and people's livelihoods.

🔹"The experience of the Islamic Revolution has shown that economic pressure cannot change the Iranian nation's will and produces the opposite effect," he added.

🔹Aref emphasized that the government's priority is to neutralize sanctions and protect the livelihood of the people.

Iran finalizes preferential trade deal with Oman, submits to parliament

Iran has completed administrative procedures for a preferential trade agreement with Oman and sent it to parliament for final approval, TPOI official Abdolamir Rabihavi announced. The deal is expected to be reviewed next month. It follows 18 MoUs signed during President Pezeshkian's May 2025 visit to Muscat, aiming to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two neighbors.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529264/Iran-finalizes-preferential-trade-agreement-with-Oman-sends

Tehran Times today: #front_page     
August 23, 2026    
   
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