President Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned whether Iran’s national soccer team should attend the 2026 World Cup, a day after Tehran said it would withdraw from the tournament after being attacked by the United States.
US says navy could escort ships through Strait of Hormuz when its 'militarily possible': Report Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, says the United States Navy could begin escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz once military conditions allow. Speaking to Sky News, Bessent said Washington may organise a multinational effort to secure the key shipping route. “My belief, that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through,” he said.
Netanyahu says Iran not the same after US-Israeli strikes Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran has been significantly weakened after nearly two weeks of joint strikes by Israel and the United States. Speaking at his first news conference since the start of the war, the Israeli prime minister said the attacks had dealt major blows to Iran’s elite military units. Netanyahu also said he remains in close contact with US President Donald Trump as the conflict continues.
New Delhi [India], March 13 (ANII): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, backed by the US, involving Iran and Israel.
Trump says Iran World Cup team may not be safe in US US President Donald Trump has suggested Iran’s national football team should not take part in the upcoming 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America, suggesting that their safety could not be guaranteed. Speaking about the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Trump said Iran’s team was technically “welcome”, but questioned whether their participation would be appropriate. “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he said without outlining where the threat would come from.
A look at the war in Iran’s effects on global energy markets, two activists whose Sierra Club memberships were revoked, and more climate and environmental news.
UAE says it intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran The UAE says its air defence systems intercepted a fresh wave of missiles and drones launched from Iran. The defence ministry said its forces had “interacted” with 10 ballistic missiles and 26 drones on Thursday. Since the start of the Israeli-US war on Iran, Emirati air defences have engaged 278 ballistic missiles and 1,540 drones, according to the ministry.
Muscat [Oman], March 12 (ANI): Oman Air on Thursday announced that while most flights continue to operate normally with additional services across its network, several routes remain temporarily affected due to ongoing regional airspace closures amid West Asia conflict.
New Delhi [India], March 12 (ANI): Amid sloganeering by the opposition MPs, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the country is successfully navigating the major disruption in global energy supplies following the West Asia conflict.
US war on Iran cost $11. 3bn in first six days: Report The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has already cost more than $11. 3bn in its first six days, US defence officials told senators during a closed-door briefing, according to multiple reports.
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Why the bloc has been so quiet about the war in the Middle East At the BRICS summit in South Africa in the summer of 2023, the group's five member states made a bold decision: they invited five new countries to join. The move was greeted with considerable skepticism. Some observers questioned the selection process, noting that the criteria for membership remained unclear.
The economic fallout of the US-Israeli assault and Tehran’s retaliation is spreading fast, and pushing the most vulnerable towards disaster Soaring prices at the pump , the scrapping of mortgage deals , and the prospect of higher prices for everything from food to smartphones . The US-Israeli attack on Iran , and Tehran’s retaliation, has rocked the global economy. Consumers are already feeling the pain of the biggest energy supply shock in history, and Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed on Thursday that the strait of Hormuz will remain closed , according to a statement attributed to him by state media.
Democrats introduce ‘Justice for Hind Rajab Act’ as film about her death gains Oscar buzz Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 03/12/2026 - 15:51 If passed, it would compel the Trump administration to reveal everything it knows about Israel's killing of the child in Gaza A guest holds a portrait of Hind Rajab during the red carpet arrivals for the film 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' presented in competition at the 82nd International Venice Film Festival, at Venice Lido, Italy, on 3 September 2025 (Tiziana Fabi/AFP) Off US Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill demanding that the State Department explain exactly what it did to investigate the circumstances of the killing of Palestinian child Hind Rajab, and whether any Americans were involved, The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Thursday. The "Justice for Hind Rajab Act" will have to go through committees and floor debates in both chambers of Congress before it comes to a vote. It undoubtedly faces an uphill battle in a Republican-dominated legislature.
US officials say Iran war could last four to five weeks: Report Two US officials have told Al Jazeera that Washington expects the war against Iran to continue for four to five weeks, though it could end sooner. According to the officials, the conflict may conclude within two weeks if political conditions change, but the final decision will depend on US President Donald Trump.
Washington DC [US], March 12 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Thursday clarified his administration's primary objectives regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran, shifting the focus away from the economic impacts of rising oil prices and toward long-term global security.
New Delhi [India], March 12 (ANI): India on Thursday highlighted a high-level diplomatic push to protect Indian interests, emphasising the twin priorities of citizen safety and the stability of energy supply chains.
Pascale, what motivated you to get involved in this work? I have been a member of feminist organizations since 2008; I was 19 years old at the time. I began engaging with feminist groups such as Foundation Toya.
Iran vows to fight until US regrets ‘grave miscalculation’ Ali Larijani, a senior security official in Iran, says the country will continue fighting until the United States regrets its decision to launch the war on the country. Larijani condemned US President Donald Trump and rejected suggestions that the conflict could be resolved quickly. "Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory.
Regional reactions to the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader have revealed growing anxiety about stability, with Tehran’s allies condemning the killing of his father and adversaries hardening their military posture.
