Shafaq News- Washington

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth saidon Wednesday that the United States would launch new strikes on Iran, declaringthat US Central Command would be "busy tonight" after PresidentDonald Trump vowed to hit Tehran "hard" unless it agreed to a dealwith Washington.

Speaking at MacDill Air Force Basein Tampa, Florida, Hegseth noted, "President Trump said we will be hittingIran hard, and we will be."

Trump also convened his nationalsecurity team to discuss the next phase of the US response. According to two USsources cited by Axios, one option under consideration is a military operationthat would be “big in scale but short in duration,” aimed at increasingpressure on Tehran “tochange its position in the negotiations.”

Meanwhile, Thomas Warrick, a seniorfellow at the Atlantic Council and former US deputy assistant secretary forcounterterrorism policy, told Shafaq News that Trump now appears convincedmilitary pressure offers the best chance of securing an agreement with Iran.

“PresidentTrump thought that after the airstrike on military targets following thedowning of the US Apache helicopter, that should be the end of it. Instead,Iran launched 21 drone or missile strikes at a number of Gulf Arab countries,showing their willingness to escalate rather than de-escalate,” he added.

On Tuesday, US forces struck radarand air-defense sites in southern Iran after Washington accused Tehran ofinvolvement in the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz,an allegation Iran denied. Tehran later announced a drone attack targeting theUS Fifth Fleet in Bahrain through its Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Washington and Tehran have beennegotiating an end to the conflict that erupted on Feb. 28 following US andIsraeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian attacks on US and Israeli-linkedtargets across the Gulf. One of the main sticking points remains Iran'sstockpile of enriched uranium, which Trump insists must be addressed to preventTehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to SupremeLeader Mojtaba Khamenei, said on June 5 that progress depends on the release of$24 billion in Iranian assets frozen under US sanctions. He also argued thatunresolved provisions in the draft framework require further clarification andaccused Washington of attempting to impose its own conditions while leavingTehran's concerns unaddressed.

Shafaq News- Washington

US forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for thesecond consecutive day, claiming violation of the US-imposed blockade byattempting to transport Iranian oil, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) indicatedon Wednesday.

US aircraft fired precision-guided munitions at the vessel'sengine room after its crew repeatedly refused to comply with instructions,CENTCOM noted.

Since the blockade began on April 13, the command said, theforces have disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships thatcomplied with orders, and allowed the passage of 42 vessels carryinghumanitarian aid.

https://t.co/YgShlznGPQ

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 10, 2026

On Tuesday, CENTCOM said that the US military hitair-defense and radar installation southern Iran, accusing Tehran ofinvolvement in the downing of an Apache helicopter. Iran denied responsibilityfor the incident. Later, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announceda drone attack targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

Shafaq News- Washington/ Tehran

The United States imposed sanctions on nine individuals andentities accused of supporting weapons procurement for Iran's IslamicRevolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and military establishment, including severalbased in China and Hong Kong.

The measures target China- and Hong Kong-based individualsand companies, “that facilitated the procurement of weapons for the IRGC andMODAFL,” as well as a Hong Kong‑based company operating withinIran’s clandestine banking network that “attempted weapons procurement-related transactions.”

The sanctions, according to the US Treasury, are part ofWashington's broader maximum-pressure campaign against Iran, aimed atrestricting the government's ability to generate, transfer, and repatriatefunds, and follow measures imposed on May 8, 2026, against procurement networksaccused of supplying the IRGC and Iran's Innovation and Technology CooperationCenter, which coordinates Tehran's efforts to acquire advanced technologies andweapons systems.

Today, as part of Economic Fury, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nine individuals and entities that have supported weapons procurement on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. Treasury…

— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) June 10, 2026

Last week, the US Treasury Department stated that it hadimposed sanctions on a network accused of exporting Iranian liquefied petroleumgas.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump saidon Wednesday that the United States would strike Iran “again hard today,” a dayafter US forces targeted sites in southern Iran.

Speaking to reporters during asigning ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump linked the planned action to Iran’srole in the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz andurged Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington.

“We want a deal that'smeaningful, we want a deal that works,” he noted, cautioning that failure toreach an agreement could prompt additional US action.

Earlier today, Trump accusedIran of passing up an opportunity to secure favorable terms, warning that itwould “pay the price” for delaying talks.

US forces had struckair-defense and radar installations in southern Iran following the helicopterincident, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) characterizing the operation as aself-defense response. Tehran, however, denied any involvement.

Iran later announced a droneattack targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to the country'scentral military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Read more: Trump’s balancing act with Iran tests diplomacyand deterrence

Shafaq News- Washington (Updated at 15:39)

US President Donald Trumpwarned on Wednesday that Iran would “pay the price” for delaying an agreementwith Washington, arguing that Tehran had missed an opportunity to securefavorable terms.

He also told Fox News that Washingtonwas nearing a decision on possible strikes against power plants and bridges,accusing Tehran of dragging out negotiations.

BREAKING: President Trump exclusively tells @TreyYingst that the U.S. is getting close to ordering new strikes against Iranian power plants and bridges in response to “tapping the United States along” when it comes to drawn out negotiations.The U.S. launched overnight strikes… pic.twitter.com/Eh3zZBWh7q

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 10, 2026

The United States launched anew round of strikes on air-defense and radar sites in southern Iran followingthe downing of a US Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. USCentral Command (CENTCOM) described the operation as a self-defense measure,while Tehran denied any involvement in the incident.

Speaking previously to ABCNews, Trump defended the US military response while expressing confidence thatdiplomatic contacts could continue despite the latest escalation.

Iran later announced a droneattack targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to the country'scentral military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Washington and Tehran havebeen negotiating an end to the war that erupted on Feb. 28 after US and Israelistrikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian attacks on US and Israeli-linked targetsacross the Gulf. One of the main obstacles remains Iran’s stockpile of enricheduranium, with Trump repeatedly insisting that any agreement must prevent Tehranfrom acquiring a nuclear weapon and address the future of its enriched uraniumreserves.

Adviser to Iran's SupremeLeader Mojtaba Khamenei, Mohsen Rezaei, however, stated on June 5 that progressdepends on the release of $24 billion in Iranian assets frozen under USsanctions. He argued that unresolved provisions in the draft framework requirefurther clarification and accused Washington of seeking to impose its ownconditions while leaving Tehran’s concerns unaddressed.

Read more: Trump’s balancing act with Iran tests diplomacy and deterrence

Shafaq News- London

A cargo vessel came under fire after a small boat carrying six armed menapproached it southwest of Belhaf, Yemen, the UK Maritime Trade Operations(UKMTO) reported on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Agency noted that the vessel, located about 88nautical miles southwest of Belhaf, was approached by the small craft when thevessel’s Armed Security Team opened fire, prompting the boat to withdraw fromthe area.

The identity of the small boat was not identified. No casualties ordamage were recorded.

On Monday, Yemen’s Houthi Movement (Ansarallah) imposed a complete banon Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, warning that any Israeli vesseldetected in the area would be treated as a legitimate military target.

The Red Sea restriction has been a recurring instrument of Houthipressure since November 19, 2023, when the group began targetingIsraeli-affiliated shipping in solidarity with Gaza. The campaign forced majorcontainer lines to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks oftransit time and raising costs for Asia-Europe trade. The Houthis suspendedbroad maritime restrictions in January 2025 following a Gaza ceasefire, butreinstated a comprehensive blockade on Israeli vessels on March 11, 2025, afterIsrael halted aid deliveries into Gaza.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump onWednesday defended ongoing strikes against Iran, saying Washington's responseto the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz shouldbe "very strong" and "very powerful."

Speaking to ABC News while theoperation was underway, Trump said, "I think it's very important torespond," adding that he still believed a previously negotiated deal withIran could remain on track despite the escalation.

US Central Command (CENTCOM)announced what it described as self-defense strikes against Iran in retaliationfor the helicopter incident. Tehran, however, had rejected the accusation, withDeputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying Iran was not behind the attackand that no deliberate action had targeted the aircraft.

Iranian media reported that thestrikes targeted several sites in southern Iran, including naval facilities inSirik and Jask, air defense positions in Bandar Abbas and Minab, and facilitiesat Qeshm Port.

Meanwhile, Fox News, citing a USofficial, noted that the operation remains ongoing, with strikes targetingIranian air defense systems and radar installations.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the crashinvolving a US Apache helicopter was not a “major incident” and that the pilotwas safe, while affirming that sanctions and restrictions targeting Iranianports would remain in place for as long as necessary.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Trump claimed that themeasures were making Iran “very poor” and would continue “for as long asneeded.”

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi deniedIranian involvement in the incident over the Strait of Hormuz, stating that“Iran was not behind the attack” and that there had been no deliberate actiontargeting the aircraft.

Earlier in the day, Trump threatened a response against Iranfollowing reports that a US Apache helicopter had been brought down over theStrait of Hormuz.

The downing of the helicopter marks the first reported lossof a US Apache since the April 8 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.However, the Gulf region has witnessed repeated flare-ups in recent weeks,including strikes involving Iranian islands and military sitesin the Gulf.

Shafaq News- Washington

The United States will respond to Iran for shooting down anApache helicopter while on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz, US PresidentDonald Trump threatened on Tuesday.

There were two pilots involved, both of whom are safe anduninjured, Trump noted.

Earlier today, CNN reported, citing a source, that an IranianShahed drone hit the US helicopter, adding that it was unclear whether thedrone had targeted the Apache intentionally or if it was an inadvertent strike.

Iran has not yetcommented on the incident.

The downing of the helicopter marks the first reported loss of a USApache since the April 8 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. However, theGulf region has witnessed repeated flare-ups in recent weeks, including strikesinvolving Iranian islands and military sites in the Gulf Arab countries.

Shafaq News- Paris

France has barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichfrom entering the country, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced onTuesday, citing his support for the annexation of the occupied West Bank andcalls to re-establish Israeli settlements in Gaza.

Paris also imposed entry bans on four leaders of settlementorganizations and 21 settlers accused of involvement in violence in the WestBank, Barrot stated, condemning “policies rejected by the overwhelming majorityof the international community, which remains committed to the two-statesolution.”

Barrot said the measures, which target individuals linked tothe expansion of settlements and violence in the West Bank, align with similaractions taken by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, andNorway.

Avec nos partenaires britannique, canadien, australien, néo-zélandais et norvégien, nous prenons aujourd’hui de nouvelles sanctions contre les responsables de l’intensification de la colonisation et des violences en Cisjordanie.A titre national, nous avons interdit d’accès à… pic.twitter.com/VwGy3l7l00

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) June 9, 2026

Last month, France barred National Security Minister ItamarBen-Gvir from entering its territory after he published footage showingdetained activists from the "Sumud Flotilla" kneeling with theirhands bound following their interception at sea and subsequent detention insouthern Israel.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are key figures in Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government.

Ireland has also recently imposed entry bans on the twoministers, while the United Kingdom barred them from entering the country inJune last year. Spain and Slovenia later adopted similar measures.

Shafaq News- Washington

The crew of a US Army Apache helicopter that crashednear the Strait of Hormuz was recovered unharmed, US President Donald Trumpannounced on Tuesday.

Speaking on the tarmac at John F. KennedyInternational Airport before returning to Washington, Trump said theadministration would release additional details later in the day.

Earlier, The New York Times cited people familiar withthe matter as saying the aircraft came down on Monday near the strategicwaterway.

Officials have yet to determine whether Iranian fire,a mechanical fault, or another factor caused the incident.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu against escalating tensions with Iran, adding that Israel would be left without American backingif it pursued a broader confrontation, Israeli media reported on Monday.

Israel’s Channel 12 quoted Trump as saying he had instructedNetanyahu to halt a planned attack on Iran even as Israeli fighter jets wereprepared for action. Trump said he had succeeded in reducing the scale of anIsraeli strike against Iran and revealed that several countries in the regionhad asked him to pressure Netanyahu to prevent further escalation.

“I told Netanyahu that I do not want a new war, and you donot have a green light.”

Netanyahu stated that Israel’s war against Hezbollahmovement is “not over,” adding that he held “good discussions” with Trump.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced thesuspension of military operations against Israel. The command, however, warnedthat any continued attacks, particularly in southern Lebanon, would draw a“stronger” response from Tehran.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iran launched multiple barrages of ballistic missiles toward Israel onMonday, activating air raid sirens across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba, andthe Negev region, according to the Israeli military and Iranian state media.

The Israeli army said its air defense systems intercepted the incomingprojectiles. Israeli Channel 12 reported interception operations over southernIsrael, the Dead Sea area, Dimona, and Beersheba, and civil defense andemergency medical teams were deployed to sweep multiple sites across thecountry.

Israeli media reported missile fragments and debris falling near BeitShemesh, west of Jerusalem, and in the city of Beersheba in the Negev. A rocketalso fell near the Itamar settlement in the northern West Bank, causing nocasualties or damage, according to Israeli public radio. Seven missilestargeting the Ashdod area, south of Tel Aviv, were intercepted, Israeli publicradio reported.

A missile launched from Yemen was “also intercepted successfully,”Channel 12 said.

🔴 Damage to home in West Bank community in recent Iranian ballistic missile attack https://t.co/CqBwiSnJzn pic.twitter.com/khVU5E2JjP

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) June 8, 2026

Iran's Mehr News Agency confirmed the launch of a new missile salvotoward Israeli-controlled territory. Israel's Home Front Command issuedsuccessive alerts for the Greater Tel Aviv area, Beersheba, the Negev, andDimona —the latter a city in southern Israel home to the country's primarynuclear research facility.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the new missilebarrage was in direct retaliation for Israeli strikes on radar installationsacross three areas inside Iranian territory. The IRGC said its missilestargeted key positions at two Israeli air bases, Nevatim and Tel Nof, bothlocated in southern Israel and among the country's most strategicallysignificant military installations.

Israel's security cabinet was scheduled to convene before noon Monday toassess the security situation, according to Israeli public radio.

A fragile ceasefire between the two sides had taken effect on April 8,but broke down following Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, whichIsrael said were in retaliation for alleged Hezbollah attacks.

The Israeli military also targeted Iran early Monday. According to Channel15, the targets included surface-to-surface missile launch pads, weapons andammunition factories, air defense systems, and radar installations in centraland western Iran. The Israeli Navy also participated in the operation, Israelimedia reported.

The situation is developing.

פרסום ראשון: בפיקוד העורף דורשים להגביל את ההתקהלות בנתב"ג ל-2,500 נוסעים בלבד. המהלך עלול לצמצם את מספר הטיסות בכל שעה@Dean_Fisher_

— החדשות - N12 (@N12News) June 8, 2026

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu will have "no choice" but to accept anyagreement reached between Washington and Tehran.

Trump told the Financial Times that the Iranian attack wouldnot derail ongoing talks between the United States and Iran. However, he warnedthat Washington could resort to military action or continue its economicblockade if negotiations fail to produce a deal.

Earlier today, the US president called on Iran to resume negotiationsand finalize an agreement, adding that Tehran had already expended its missilearsenal and that further escalation served no purpose.

Iranlaunched on July 7 ballistic missiles toward Israel in response to an Israelistrike on Beirut's southern suburbs. According to Israeli media outlets,Israel raised its alert level and Netanyahu held emergency securityconsultations with Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior security officialsto discuss a possible response.

Shafaq News- Washington/ Beirut

A new round of Lebanese-Israeli talks will take place onJune 22, the US State Department announced on Sunday.

In a statement to the New York Times, the department pointedto its support for the negotiation process and urged Hezbollah to halt attacks,arguing that continued violence could undermine efforts to reach an agreement.

Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi warnedthat any violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon would be treated as a breach ofceasefires across all fronts, holding the United States and Israel responsiblefor the consequences. However, Israel carried out a new strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahyeh) earliertoday, after which Iran launched four waves of missiles toward Israel.

Lebanon and Israel reached a US-mediated ceasefire frameworkduring the fourth round of talks in Washington on June 3 and 4. The proposed dealconditions a complete halt to Hezbollah fire and the withdrawal of the group'soperatives from the area south of the Litani River. Hezbollah Secretary-GeneralNaim Qassem rejected the framework, describing it as “capitulation,” whilePresident Joseph Aoun called it Lebanon's “final chance” to end the war.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israeli attacksbetween March 2 and June 6 had killed 3,593 people and wounded 10,990 others,including women and children.

Shafaq News- Washington (Updated at 23:22)

US President Donald Trump called on Iran on Sunday to resume negotiations and finalize a deal, telling Fox News that Tehran had already expended its missile arsenal and that further escalation served no purpose.

Iran launched four waves of missiles toward Israel earlier today, sending residents into shelters across northern and central Israel after Tehran vowed to retaliate for Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

"You fired your missiles, and that's enough," Trump said in remarks to Fox News. "Come back to the negotiating table and make a deal." The president added that the two sides were close to reaching an agreement.

He added that Israel's airstrikes on Beirut earlier in the day were notcoordinated with the United States and expressed dissatisfaction with theoperation.

In a separate comment to Axios, Trump said he planned to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urge him not to carry out further strikes on Iran.

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Israel's Ramat David Airbase with ballistic missiles, describing the strike as retaliation for Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs.

In a statement, the group said the airbase was attacked because it was "the origin of these aggressions," referring to Israeli military operations that caused deaths and displacement in the Lebanese cities of Tyre and Nabatieh, as well as Beirut's southern suburbs (Dahiyeh).

The IRGC also accused Israel and the United States of violating a ceasefire that Iran said it had accepted on April 8, alleging continued attacks in Lebanon and strikes against Iranian interests in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, and the Indian Ocean.

"Tonight's operation was a warning," the statement said, adding that any further attacks would lead to a broader response targeting "American-Zionist targets" across the region.

The statement ended by declaring that any future retaliation would be wider in scope if hostilities continue.

Shafaq News- Washington

US President Donald Trump signaled on Sunday that a nuclear agreementwith Iran may be “very close,” indicating that any potential deal would blockTehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump stated that Washington would workwith Tehran to recover and dismantle enriched uranium if negotiations succeed.

“If we make a deal that now we’re friendly, we’ll all go together. It’llbe our equipment. We’ll take it out and destroy it, whether it’s on-site orwhether we take it off-site,” Trump said, warning that if an agreement is notreached, “then we’re going to take them out militarily very harshly.”

On the security front, Trump confirmed that US forces will remaindeployed across the region for now, describing the presence as part of effortsto maintain stability while diplomatic talks continue. He further noted thatany potential agreement would not include the immediate release of frozen Iranian assets, adding that such steps would depend on Tehran’scompliance with future commitments.

Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remains one of the main unresolvedissues in negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending thethree-month war. Trump has repeatedly demanded that Iran relinquish itsenriched uranium, while recent draft memoranda of understanding have centeredon a preliminary framework that leaves core nuclear issues for later talks.

Read more: Trump’s balancing act with Iran tests diplomacy and deterrence

Shafaq News- Washington/ Tehran

Frozen Iranian assets could be used to help repair damage in countries affected by Iranian attacks, Reuters reported on Saturday, while the same funds remain one of the main disputes in US-Iran negotiations.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent directed relevant agencies to assess damage allegedly caused by Iran in several neighboring states, a step that, according to the outlet, could shape future compensation or reconstruction mechanisms.

Tehran, meanwhile, has demanded immediate access to frozen money as part of any preliminary deal. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Mehr News Agency that at least 50% of Iran’s frozen assets should be released immediately under any possible understanding with the United States.

Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, also told CNN that any agreement with Washington depends on the release of $24 billion in Iranian funds frozen under US sanctions.

Tehran has linked broader de-escalation to a halt in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, while Washington has sought changes to a draft agreement related to the Strait of Hormuz and the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, delaying a final deal.

Shafaq News- Washington

Israel has intensified intelligence-gathering effortstargeting US officials to obtain information about President Donald Trump'sstrategy in negotiations with Iran, the New York Times (NYT) said onSaturday.

Citing US officials and intelligence assessments, the NYTdescribed Israel's intelligence activities as unusually aggressive, claimingthey exceeded those of any other US ally and, in some cases, even countriesconsidered US adversaries. The report indicated that Israeli intelligenceservices stepped up efforts to monitor senior US officials, including PresidentTrump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Meanwhile, NBC News reported growing concern within the USDepartment of War over Israeli espionage activities targeting the UnitedStates. Quoting current and former US officials, NBC indicated that the Pentagonrecently raised its counterintelligence assessment of Israel to the highestthreat level, while the Defense Intelligence Agency issued a new review inrecent weeks amid mounting disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv overthe war with Iran. According to US officials, an internal intelligence noticeclassified the Israeli espionage threat as "critical."

The reports recalled previous tensions over Israeliespionage activities in the United States, including the case of former US Navyintelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard, who served 30 years in prison afterbeing convicted of passing highly classified documents to Israel in the 1980s.

Additionally, the agency noted that the United States alsoconducts intelligence operations against allies and partners. Leaks publishedin 2013 by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden revealed that USagencies surveilled communications of several allied leaders, includingthen-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, triggering diplomatic tensions withBerlin.

Since the Iran-US ceasefire took effect in early April,Trump has sought to secure a diplomatic agreement with Tehran to end theconflict launched by Israel and the United States on February 28.

Read more: Trump’s balancing act with Iran tests diplomacy and deterrence

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran on Saturday accused the United States of restricting access formembers of its World Cup 2026 delegation after several officials were deniedvisas, alleging that Washington ‘’politicizes sport and undermines equalconditions for all participating teams.’’

In a statement, the Iranian Football Federation described the move as“discriminatory,” arguing it violates international football rules.

Asserting that the visa denials have created an uneven environment forthe squad, the Federation indicated it will raise the matter with FIFA, whichoversees entry procedures for teams taking part in the World Cup, warning thatthe absence of key support staff could affect preparations and match readiness.

On Friday, US authorities granted visas to Iran’s national footballteam, easing uncertainty just 10 days before the team’s opening match. USSecretary of State Marco Rubio had previously assured that individuals linkedto Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would not be permitted tojoin the country’s World Cup delegation.

Iran will open its Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeleson June 15, before facing Belgium in the same city. The team will then concludeits group-stage schedule against Egypt in Seattle.

Shafaq News- Washington/ Tehran

Iran and the United States offeredconflicting accounts on Saturday after missile and drone attacks involvingKuwait, Bahrain, and the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) saidIranian drones were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and seven ballisticmissiles were fired toward Kuwait and Bahrain. It reported intercepting six ofthe missiles, while a seventh failed to reach its intended target.

https://t.co/otMGCOAWYY

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 6, 2026

US forces, according to CENTCOM,later struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on QeshmIsland, a strategic Iranian island overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, describingthe operation as a defensive measure against further maritime threats.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary GuardCorps (IRGC), however, said four oil tankers acting under the guidance of the USmilitary attempted to leave the Strait of Hormuz without authorization despiterepeated warnings from its naval forces, prompting Iran to stop one vesselwhile the others turned back. US drones then struck telecommunications towerson Qeshm Island and in Sirik, after which Iranian forces launched ballisticmissiles at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base and facilities linked to the USFifth Fleet in Bahrain.

The US Command denied Iranian claimsthat the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain had been damaged andsaid no US personnel were harmed.

Meanwhile, Kuwait's General Staffconfirmed that air defense systems were confronting “hostile missile and droneattacks,” noting that sounds of explosions were linked to interceptionoperations.

تتصدى حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الكويتية لهجمات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة معادية.تنوه رئاسة الأركان العامة للجيش أن أصوات الانفجارات إن سمعت فهي نتيجة اعتراض منظومات الدفاع الجوي للهجمات المعادية.يرجى من الجميع التقيد بتعليمات الأمن والسلامة الصادرة عن الجهات المختصة.… pic.twitter.com/88tTHBcKAd

— KUWAIT ARMY - الجيش الكويتي (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) June 6, 2026

Bahrain had not commented at thetime of publication.

Earlier this week, US forces carriedout what Washington described as self-defense strikes on an IRGC communicationstower on Qeshm Island. Hours later, Iran announced missile and drone attacksagainst US-linked targets and Gulf states, claiming it had struck theheadquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a US air base in the region.

Shafaq News- Washington

US authorities have granted visas to Iran’s national football team aheadof the 2026 FIFA World Cup, resolving a period of uncertainty just 10 daysbefore the team’s opening match, a White House official told Reuters on Friday.

The delays in visa approvals prompted Iran to relocate its training basefrom Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, where the national team is scheduled to arriveon June 7.

Iran will open its Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeleson June 15, before facing Belgium in the same city. The team will then concludeits group-stage schedule against Egypt in Seattle.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed lawmakersthat individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)would not be permitted to join the country’s World Cup delegation.

The tournament takes place against the backdrop of ongoing tensionsbetween Washington and Tehran, marking the first World Cup since its inceptionin 1930 in which a host nation is expected to welcome a country with which itis in active conflict. 

Shafaq News- Washington

Negotiations between the United States and Iran have enteredtheir final stages, while key differences between the two sides remainunresolved, Axios reported on Friday, citing US officials.

American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met onThursday with nuclear experts at a national laboratory in Tennessee, the officialsrevealed, adding that disagreements persist between Washington and Tehran overseveral details of the proposed memorandum of understanding.

“The negotiations are in their final stage, but it remainsunclear whether an agreement will be reached,” they said, clarifying that themeeting between Witkoff, Kushner, and the nuclear experts does not necessarilyindicate that a deal is imminent, but reflects the seriousness of the ongoingnegotiations.

Earlier, Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's Supreme LeaderMojtaba Khamenei, stated that any agreement with the United States depends onthe release of Iranian$24 billion assets frozen under US sanctions.

Shafaq News- Washington

The US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Iran onFriday, targeting a network accused of exporting Iranian liquefied petroleumgas (LPG) through front companies and a financial firm allegedly involved inmoving funds for sanctioned Iranian banks.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) indicated thatthe measures target individuals, companies, and vessels accused of disguisingIranian LPG as Omani-origin fuel and exporting it to Asian markets through anetwork spanning the United Arab Emirates and China. The sanctions also targetan Iranian exchange house and its leadership, which Washington accuses offacilitating foreign currency transactions on behalf of sanctioned Iranianbanks.

The Treasury warned that individuals, companies, vessels,and financial institutions involved in facilitating Iranian trade orsanctions-evasion activities could face US sanctions, including secondarysanctions on foreign entities supporting Iranian commerce.

Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is designating a network of individuals, entities, and vessels responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian-origin liquid petroleum gas⸺intentionally disguised as Omani LPG⸺to end users in South…

— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) June 5, 2026

Earlier today, the US Indo-Pacific Command announced the interceptionof the sanctioned vessel Davina, noting that it would continue to enforce maritimelaw “to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing materialsupport to Iran.”