The Iranian team’s departure from the tournament ends one of the most politically charged odysseys in recent sports history. Its soccer federation criticized the United States and praised Mexico.
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 28 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the newly announced US-mediated framework agreement with Lebanon as a turning point that effectively sidelines Tehran, calling it a 'massive blow to Iran and Hezbollah.
Life in Tehran appears to be edging back toward peacetime normalcy as a cease-fire holds and negotiations between the United States and Iran continue. Cafes that shuttered during air strikes have reopened. Streets that were once empty are again busy with traffic and pedestrians.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Following a powerful earthquake that struck Venezuela and caused heavy casualties and widespread damage, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed the country’s full readiness to provide emergency assistance and support rescue and relief operations.
Analysts and western leaders believe Iran will increase support of militia groups despite deal between US and Iran As Marco Rubio ended his brief visit to the Middle East on Friday, he sought to cast in the best possible light his discussions with leaders of the Gulf states. Those leaders are deeply anxious that the deal agreed earlier this month between Iran and the US fails to address their worries about continued Iranian efforts to project power and influence throughout the region. “They’ve shared with us some very concrete concerns,” the US secretary of state admitted, and insisted that any definitive agreement will require Tehran to not only restrict its nuclear programme but also halt its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, militia in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.
Residential building damaged in Iranian strike, says Bahrain ministry The Gulf nation's Ministry of Interior said that a residential building in the Muharraq Governorate suffered damage in the attacks, though no casualties were reported. In a statement posted on X, the ministry attributed the damage to “the sinful Iranian aggression” and said the authorities had begun procedures at the site. Earlier, Bahrain called on the UN Security Council to "hold an urgent session and put an end to this ongoing aggression and hold its perpetrators accountable".
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, The United States carried out a second consecutive day of strikes on Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The escalation comes as Lebanon and Israel begin implementing a US-backed framework agreement, with Lebanese leaders seeking to preserve stability despite strong opposition from Hezbollah. Here are the latest updates: US Central Command said American aircraft struck Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defence sites and drone storage facilities near Sirik and Qeshm Island.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman decried remarks by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni regarding Italy’s role in the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, saying Rome’s denial of participation contradicts its admission of providing support to US forces.
Palestinian injured by Israeli fire in Jerusalem camp, 13 detained during raids Israeli forces shot and wounded a Palestinian youth and detained two others during a raid early Sunday on the Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, WAFA reported. Eleven other Palestinians were detained during raids across Nablus in the occupied West Bank. Citing Jerusalem Governorate, WAFA said the injured youth was shifted to the hospital for treatment.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed for Baghdad on Sunday morning for an official visit to hold talks with senior Iraqi officials on bilateral relations and regional and international developments.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a renewed US violation of the memorandum of understanding ending the war, following airstrikes on monitoring facilities along Iran’s southern coast.
Israel says troops killed armed fighters in southern Syria and Lebanon The Israeli military said its forces killed several armed individuals in the area it describes as a security zone in southern Syria and carried out additional strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets in southern Lebanon. According to the military, soldiers "eliminated several armed terrorists" in southern Syria and would continue operating there to remove threats to Israeli civilians and troops. Israeli forces moved into a UN-monitored buffer zone adjacent to the occupied Golan Heights in December 2024, a move criticised by Syria and others as a violation of the 1973 ceasefire agreement.
Iran's Aragchi to 'discuss regional developments' with Iraqi officials Iran's foreign minister Abbas Aragchi on Sunday morning left for Baghdad, where he will exchange views with senior Iraqi officials on bilateral relations and regional and international developments, IRNA reported. The official visit comes amid a fresh wave of US strikes on several Iranian installations and Tehran's retaliatory attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. FM @araghchi departed for Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, on Sunday morning for an official visit.
(Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images) After 72 games were played to eliminate just 12 of the 48 teams at the largest-ever World Cup, the knockout phase is finally set to begin. All of the pre-tournament favorites (France, Spain, England, Argentina) made it through, and a few surprise sides are through, too.
Bahrain condemns Iranian strikes, seeks UN Security Council emergency meet Bahrain has expressed its “strongest condemnation” of Iran’s missile and drone attacks, saying they violate the country’s sovereignty and undermine “opportunities for de-escalation and stability in the region”. In a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, the ministry called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to address the situation in hopes of “putting an end to this ongoing aggression and holding its perpetrators accountable”. The ministry added that Bahrain “affirms its full legitimate right to defend its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity in accordance with international law, and holds the Iranian regime fully responsible for any escalation resulting from its continued aggression”.
Kansas City (Missouri) [US], June 28 (ANI): Algeria and Austria produced one of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, battling to a pulsating 3-3 draw in their final Group J fixture that secured qualification for both teams while ending Iran's hopes of reaching the Round of 32. With both sides aware that a draw would be enough to progress, the contest began cautiously in Kansas City.
Tehran [Iran], June 28 (ANI): Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed it had destroyed eight US military infrastructures in Kuwait and Bahrain in a joint missile and drone operation, describing the strikes as retaliation for a second wave of US military attacks on Iranian targets.
Iran says it has launched retaliatory attacks at US infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain after the US said it hit multiple targets across Iran.
(Photo credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images) Sasa Kalajdzic scored in the closing seconds of second-half stoppage time to give Austria a dramatic 3-3 draw with Algeria in a World Cup Group J match Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo. , allowing both teams to qualify for the round of 32. Austria would have been eliminated with a loss.
Iran inflation nears 89% as war strains economy Iran's inflation rate accelerated sharply in June, reaching 88. 6 percent year-on-year, according to the country's Statistics Centre, which linked the surge to the economic impact of the recent war. The official agency said food prices more than doubled during the Persian month of Khordad, which runs from 22 May to 21 June, compared with the same period last year.
