from RT: President Donald Trump has confirmed “major combat operations” are underway to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear program and bring about a change in its government The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with President Donald Trump confirming that “major combat operations” are underway. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the US and Israel had struck […]

from RT: The joint attack against the Iranian leadership has triggered a wave of retaliatory strikes across the region Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Mohammad Pakpour, have been killed in the ongoing joint US-Israeli attack. President Donald Trump ordered “major combat operations” on Saturday, with […]

by Harold Hutchison, All News Pipeline: Employees at CNN “have real concerns ”about the network’s future after Paramount won a bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN senior media analyst Brian Stelter reported Friday. Netflix ended its efforts to acquire the media conglomerate that owns CNN after Paramount offered $31 a share, which the board […]

by Pepe Escobar, Strategic Culture: MOSCOW – Four years on after the start of the Special Military Operation (SMO) in February 2022 – actually the proxy war between NATO and Russia until the last Ukrainian – no wonder every corridor of power and dinner table in Moscow, for days, was abuzz on the pros, cons […]

Iran reportedly has threatened to withdraw from this summer’s World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, following the U.S.-Israeli operation on Saturday. Iran, which qualified for the competition by finishing as one of the best teams in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is scheduled to play three contests in the United States. FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said the organization is focused on having a safe World Cup and every team participating. Iran threaten to WITHDRAW from World Cup after US airstrikes… as FIFA issue statement following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death https://t.co/QNsm3TiTxX — Daily Mail (@DailyMail) March 1, 2026 Daily Mail explained further: In the wake of the conflict, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, cast massive doubt over their participation in the upcoming summer tournament. Speaking on Iranian TV network ‘Tehran’, according to Marca, he said: ‘With what happened today and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the cup.’ He added: ‘But the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that.’ Should they choose to participate, Iran could face the United States at the World Cup in Dallas on July 3 if both teams finish second in their respective groups. The warning comes just 107 days before the Iranian national team is scheduled to kick off its tournament against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. FIFA bosses are now reportedly scrambling to manage the fallout just months before the tournament begins across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Speaking at an IFAB meeting in Wales on Saturday, FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said: ‘I read the news the same way you did this morning. ‘We had a meeting today and it would be premature to comment on that in detail,’ he continued, as officials weigh up the safety of the upcoming summer event. ‘But of course we will monitor the developments around all issues around the world. In addition to playing New Zealand on June 15, Iran is scheduled to face Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. “We will continue to communicate as we always do with three [host] governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe,” Grafstrom said, according to KTLA. “Soccer is way more popular in Iran than the ayatollah. The Iranian soccer team should definitely play in the World Cup. We should work to make that happen,” OutKick founder Clay Travis commented. Soccer is way more popular in Iran than the ayatollah. The Iranian soccer team should definitely play in the World Cup. We should work to make that happen. https://t.co/hXtipHqqY3 — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 1, 2026 KTLA has more: The White House, at the beginning of this year, expanded its travel ban to 39 countries, including Iran, which is one of 19 countries under the “full suspension” category, meaning the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants has been halted. That said, the travel ban explicitly states that “athletes, coaches, support staff, and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events” are not included in the restrictions. A special FIFA World Cup visa, the FIFA PASS, has also been introduced for international fans. Citizens of countries subject to Proclamation 10998 on Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals can still apply, but a FIFA PASS visa will not override current travel bans.