Iran cannot participate in World Cup, sports minister says Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after the United States killed their leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali. "Considering that this corrupt regime (the US) has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," the minister told state television.
Iran's new supreme leader 'lightly injured' but still active, Iranian official tells Reuters Newly-appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "lightly injured" but is continuing to operate, an Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday. The official did not give details about what injuries had been incurred or why Khamenei had not made a statement to the public since being appointed the new leader. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of late Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran, 2 March 2016.
Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson met Israeli president accused of inciting genocide Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 10:36 MP Calum Miller met Isaac Herzog on a trip organised by Lib Dem Friends of Israel last month Calum Miller posing for a photograph with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in February 2026 (Screengrab/X/Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel) Off The Liberal Democrat party's foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller has been photographed meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog in February - after Herzog was found to have incited genocide by the United Nations' top investigative body on Palestine and Israel . The meeting came on a trip last month, not previously reported in the British press, which Middle East Eye understands was organised by the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel (LDFI) group. The Lib Dems have accused Israel of genocide and party leader Ed Davey boycotted the royal banquet held for visiting US President Donald Trump last year over Gaza.
Spain removes ambassador to Israel Spain government on Tuesday decided to remove its ambassador to Israel, according to the official state gazette published on Wednesday. Spain's embassy in Tel Aviv will be led by a charge d'affares, a source at the foreign ministry said.
Iran's new supreme leader 'safe and sound' despite war injuries, president's son says Iran's new supreme leader 'safe and sound' despite war injuries, the president's son said on Wednesday. Mojtaba Khamenei has been named Iran’s new supreme leader on Sunday, just over a week after Israeli-US strikes killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several family members, including the new leader's wife Zahra Adel, his mother Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, a son and a sister.
Netanyahu tells Iranian people to ‘remove the Ayatollah regime’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote a message on his office’s official X account on Tuesday night local time, where he addressed the people of Iran, urging them to seize what he calls a “once in a lifetime opportunity to remove the Ayatollah regime and gain your freedom”. “The Ayatollah [Ali Khamenei] is no more, and I know you don’t want him replaced with another tyrant,” Netanyahu posted. “So you must act.
Iran's MEK plots a US-backed path to power from exile in Albania Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Tue, 03/10/2026 - 15:30 Long marginal in Iranian politics, the exiled MEK seeks relevance as US and Israel strike Iran Maryam Rajavi, leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), speaks during a demonstration against the Iranian government, in Berlin on 7 February 2026 (John Macdougall/AFP) Off The war on Iran has given an opposition group that has long struggled for relevance in exile a chance to grab the mantle of history and present itself as a ready-made alternative to the Islamic Republic. As Israel and the US began to strike Iran on 28 February, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) swung into action. Maryam Rajavi, the group's 72-year-old leader, announced the formation of what she described as a provisional government tasked with overseeing the fall of the Iranian regime and its replacement with a democratic republic with her at the helm.
Russia's foreign minister holds call with Iranian counterpart In a phone call, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed "the deteriorating situation in the Middle East" with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Araghchi: Negotiating with US off the table after 'bitter experience' Iran’s foreign minister Araghchi on Tuesday said that talking or negotiating with the US is no longer on the agenda, after “a very bitter experience” during previous rounds of nuclear talks. “They promised us that they don’t have any intention to attack us, and they wanted to resolve Iran’s nuclear question peacefully and find a negotiated solution,” Araghchi told PBS News, adding, “Still, they decided to attack us. " “I don’t think the question of talking with the Americans … once again would be on the table.
Iran says Israel, US trying to drive wedge with neighbours Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Israel and the United States are trying to create “discord” between Tehran and neighbouring countries. According to Tasnim news agency, Pezeshkian said Iran remains ready to ease regional tensions if countries hosting US bases do not allow their territory to be used to launch attacks on Iran. He also said Tehran is willing to form a joint team with Turkey to investigate the “alleged” missile attack on Turkish territory.
Oman’s sultan congratulates Iran’s new supreme leader Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sent a message congratulating Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. In the message, the sultan offered his “best wishes for his success and good fortune in assuming his leadership responsibilities in his friendly country”. Sultan Haitham is the first Arab leader to publicly congratulate Khamenei after he was selected to succeed his father, who was killed in a US-Israeli air strike last week.
Iran says Americans should blame Israel for economic impact In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: “Iran does not want to harm ordinary Americans who overwhelmingly voted to end involvement in costly foreign wars. ” He added that rising fuel prices and other economic pressures in the US should be blamed on Israel and its allies in Washington.
Trump says Iran ‘made a big mistake’ choosing Mojtaba Khamenei US President Donald Trump said Iran “made a big mistake” by selecting Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader after his father was killed in a US-Israeli attack. Speaking to NBC News, reiterating earlier remarks in which he described the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “lightweight”. Trump also said it was “too soon to talk about” seizing Iran’s oil, but added that he does not rule out the possibility.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in shouting match with judge as trial begins Submitted by Güldenay Sonumut on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 15:36 Detainees must review tens of thousands of pages of documents with just two hours of weekly computer access Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Dilek Imamoglu, wife of Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed mayor of Istanbul and main rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, address the media, 9 March 2026 (Umit Bektas/Reuters) Off Temperatures rose quickly on the opening day of the mass corruption trial involving Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and more than 400 co-defendants, with the mayor challenging the judge and seeking permission to address supporters at the outset of the hearing. The judges did not allow Imamoglu to proceed, arguing that such a request was not part of regular court procedure, as the mayor’s supporters chanted slogans in his favour. Imamoglu walked towards the bench, asking to speak.
Hezbollah pledges allegiance to new Iran supreme leader Hezbollah welcomed the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader. "We in Hezbollah extend our warmest congratulations and blessings on this occasion. We renew our pledge of loyalty to this blessed approach and our steadfastness on the path of allegiance," the group said in a statement.
Israel expands gun permits to residents of Jerusalem Jewish neighbourhoods Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 12:31 Policy drive by Ben Givr doubles civilian firearm licences, raising safety and domestic violence concerns Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir shakes hands with a volunteer of the new civilian guard unit while handing out M5 automatic assault rifles in Ashkelon on 27 October 2023 (AFP/Menahem Kahana) Off Israel 's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir has authorised residents of Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem to carry firearms, local media reported on Monday. Under Ben Gvir’s order, residents of 41 Jewish neighbourhoods in the city can now apply for a licence to carry a gun, part of the far-right minister’s wider policy of expanding civilian gun permits. Reports suggest that around 300,000 Jewish residents of Jerusalem could now be eligible.
Dozens of British MPs and peers back call for UK apology over Balfour Declaration Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 11:27 Arthur Balfour was foreign secretary in 1917 when he pledged British support for Jewish homeland in historic Palestine The Dome of the Rock shrine in the old city of Jerusalem, as seen from the Mount of Olives on 23 January 2026 (AFP/Ahmad Gharabli) Off Dozens of MPs and peers have signed a letter calling for a formal British apology over the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which paved the way for the creation of Israel in 1948 and the ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the Nakba . Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, Labour's Nadia Whittome and Green MP Carla Denyer are some of the 45 MPs and peers who have signed a letter so far, which also includes a condemnation of historic British abuses in Mandate-era Palestine between 1917 and 1948. "During its occupation of Palestine, Britain violated a series of international laws that were binding at the time," said Moran, adding: "The consequences of those actions have profoundly shaped the conflict we witness today, yet successive governments have refused to acknowledge this record or offer a formal apology.
Video: Crowds in Tehran cheered announcement of a new supreme leader in Iran View this post on Instagram A post shared by Middle East Eye (@middleeasteye)
Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as new supreme leader Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 03/09/2026 - 07:02 The 56-year-old cleric takes power days after Israeli-US strikes killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli-US strike, in a handout photo taken in Tehran on 30 October 2024 (Khamenei. ir/AFP) Off Mojtaba Khamenei has been named Iran ’s new supreme leader, just over a week after Israeli-US strikes killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , along with several family members, including the new leader's wife Zahra Adel, his mother Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, a son and a sister. The Assembly of Experts – the body of 88 scholars tasked under Iran’s constitution with appointing the country’s highest authority – said on Sunday that Mojtaba had been selected as the Islamic Republic’s third supreme leader since the 1979 revolution.
China says Iran’s leadership change is an internal matter China has said that Iran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader is a domestic matter for Tehran. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing viewed the appointment as an issue for Iran to determine under its own constitutional framework. “This is a decision by the Iranian side based on its constitution,” Guo Jiakun told a news conference.
