Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become uncertain after its sports and youth minister, Ahmad Donyamali, stated that the team will only compete if full security for Iranian players is guaranteed. He said the final decision will be made by the Iranian government and the Supreme National Security Council. The minister made the remarks to Tasnim News Agency, emphasizing that the safety of the national team in the United States is the key condition for participation.

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with all of Iran’s group-stage matches scheduled to take place in the US. Following the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States on February 28, concerns over the safety of Iranian players have intensified. Iran had earlier requested FIFA to move its matches from the US to Mexico, but the request was rejected due to logistical reasons.

With tensions between the two countries still high, the global football community is now waiting for Tehran’s final decision on whether Team Melli will take part in the tournament.

Iran has declared that it will not surrender to U.S. pressure following recent warnings from President Donald Trump. Senior Iranian officials said the country has made 'astonishing' military preparations to face any potential attack. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s correspondent Ali Hashem noted that Iran had already clarified its stance against capitulation under American pressure.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would not yield or join any talks under blockade conditions, warning that the nation is ready with many 'surprises' if war resumes. The Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, Iran’s top military command, announced full readiness to repel any assault. Multiple government officials, including from the judiciary, have expressed concern over the possibility of a major attack on Iran.

Officials have conveyed to the public that rejecting negotiations or surrender under siege could heighten the risk of war, emphasizing Tehran’s preference for military preparedness over accepting U.S. terms.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces have completely destroyed Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. He made the statement in a post on Truth Social, asserting that the US military crushed Tehran’s uranium reserves so thoroughly that Iran can no longer access or recover them. His message suggested that the operation aimed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability entirely.

In the same post, Trump sharply criticized mainstream US media, calling them corrupt and fake for their coverage of the government’s role in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. His remarks came as preparations were reportedly underway for talks between the two countries in Islamabad, adding new tension to an already volatile situation.

The claim, reported by Al Jazeera, has drawn attention amid heightened regional instability and follows recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz involving Iranian actions against foreign vessels.

Iran has executed a man named Amirali Mirjafari after convicting him of alleged links with Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad and involvement in setting fire to a mosque during protests in January. The execution was carried out early on April 21, 2026, following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold his death sentence, according to the judiciary’s media outlet Mizan.

Mizan reported that Mirjafari was accused of arson at Tehran’s Kolhak Mosque and of conducting activities described as anti-state. The case emerged amid widespread unrest across Iran earlier in the year, when demonstrations over various issues led to heightened tensions in the capital and other cities. Several individuals were arrested at that time on security-related charges.

The report did not include further details about the trial proceedings or possible international reactions to the execution.

Iran has strongly condemned the United States for seizing its commercial vessel 'Tuska' in the Gulf of Oman, calling the action illegal and terroristic. In a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on April 21, 2026, Tehran demanded the immediate release of the ship and its crew, claiming that both the sailors and their families were being detained. Iran described the seizure as a violation of international law and a recent ceasefire agreement.

The US military stated that the Iranian crew had ignored multiple warnings over six hours before the destroyer USS Spruance ordered the engine room to be evacuated and fired several rounds to disable the ship’s engines. Iran warned that the move could have extremely dangerous consequences and urged the United Nations and other international bodies to condemn the US action. Senior Iranian officials had previously issued similar statements following the seizure.

Former US President Donald Trump said the United States would not lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports until an agreement with Iran is reached.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian drones attacked a US Navy vessel in the Gulf of Oman after American forces seized an Iranian-flagged container ship named Towska. According to US Central Command, the USS Spruance disabled the ship’s propulsion after repeated warnings went unanswered, and US sailors later boarded it from the USS Tripoli by helicopter. The ship had departed Malaysia’s Port Klang on April 12 and was located about 40 nautical miles from Iran’s Chabahar port. US President Donald Trump said the action followed Iran’s attempt to violate a US naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Trump stated that Iranian sailors ignored warnings, prompting US forces to pierce the ship’s engine room and halt it mid-sea. The 290-meter vessel is now under full US Navy control and was already under US Treasury sanctions for previous illegal activities. The incident has reignited global discussion over the use of naval blockades as a strategic tool, a practice historically aimed at weakening adversaries by disrupting trade and supply routes.

Historical examples cited include British blockades during World War I, Allied actions against Japan in World War II, and more recent blockades in Gaza and Yemen, illustrating both their tactical effectiveness and humanitarian consequences.

Iran has announced preparations to demonstrate a new battlefield strategy as the two-week ceasefire with the United States nears its end. The Iranian parliament speaker stated on social media that the country has been readying to show 'new cards' in the conflict and emphasized that negotiations under threat are unacceptable. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he is under no pressure to reach an agreement and that the chances of extending the ceasefire are very low.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have intensified after US forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on April 18 and maintained a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. In parallel, US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Pakistan on Tuesday for a key meeting, while Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold a second round of talks on Thursday.

The overall situation suggests that despite the ceasefire period coming to an end, there are no clear signs of de-escalation in the region.

The planned second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran has become uncertain after the US Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship named Tuska in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Following the seizure, Iran launched a drone attack on a US warship and declared it would not join any peace talks under current conditions. The incident has heightened tensions ahead of the talks expected in Islamabad, where security has been tightened with about 20,000 personnel deployed.

According to US Central Command, the ship was seized after ignoring repeated warnings over six hours. Iran condemned the action as piracy and threatened retaliation. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir told US President Donald Trump that the American blockade of Iranian ports was the main obstacle to peace. Trump, meanwhile, warned that if Iran refused to sign a deal, it would face severe consequences. The uncertainty has driven global oil prices up by more than seven percent.

Both Washington and Tehran have sent mixed signals about participation, though US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are expected to attend if conditions permit.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that the country will not engage in negotiations under any form of threat. In a social media post, he sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy, accusing him of using sanctions and ceasefire violations to turn the negotiation table into a platform for coercion and surrender.

Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran rejects discussions conducted under pressure and hinted that new strategies and capabilities have been prepared on the battlefield over the past two weeks. His remarks came amid heightened tensions surrounding U.S.-Iran peace discussions, with reports also noting China’s support for Pakistan’s role in the dialogue and a drop in global oil prices following related news.

The statements underscore Iran’s firm stance against perceived U.S. pressure tactics and suggest that Tehran may be preparing for both diplomatic and strategic responses in the near term.

Iran has reopened its two main airports in Tehran—Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad—after several weeks of closure due to wartime conditions. The suspension had been imposed to avoid security risks during the conflict involving the United States and Israel. According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, the Civil Aviation Authority decided to resume operations from Saturday.

In addition to Tehran’s airports, permission has been granted to reopen airports in Shiraz, Kerman, Rasht, Yazd, Urmia, Kermanshah, Abadan, Gorgan, Birjand, and Zahedan. The reopening marks a gradual restoration of Iran’s domestic air network following disruptions caused by the conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the current ceasefire between the United States and Iran would not be extended unless a specific agreement is reached. He stated that without such an agreement, he would consider the war to have resumed, with the ceasefire set to remain in effect until Wednesday evening Washington time.

An Iranian-flagged cargo vessel named 'Shuja 2' is reportedly crossing the Strait of Hormuz, disregarding a US blockade, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The ship departed from Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas and is currently en route to India’s Kandla Port.

Al Jazeera reported that it could not independently verify Tasnim’s claim. However, maritime tracking service Marine Traffic indicated that the vessel is presently located within the Strait of Hormuz, with its destination listed as India. The report did not mention any response from US authorities or other stakeholders.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions involving maritime routes in the Gulf region. The report did not specify whether the ship faced any direct obstruction or inspection during its passage.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the United States’ unlawful behavior and contradictory positions are inconsistent with diplomatic principles. The conversation took place by phone, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

During the call, Araghchi expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the U.S. administration, saying that American leaders’ positions and conduct violate international norms and diplomatic etiquette. He added that Iran will closely monitor the behavior of other parties and will always make appropriate and necessary decisions to protect its national security and interests.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source but did not provide further details about any specific outcomes or next steps following the discussion.

The European Union has decided to impose new sanctions on individuals and entities linked to disruptions of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Two EU diplomats confirmed the decision, saying member state ambassadors reached a political agreement to revise existing sanction criteria. This change will allow the EU to target those responsible for restricting freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway. The European External Action Service is expected to prepare a list of sanctioned parties within the coming weeks.

The move follows heightened tensions since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, after the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The closure halted about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, causing major market instability. The EU had previously designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization in January and sanctioned several Iranian officials in March over human rights violations.

The new sanctions are expected to increase international pressure on Tehran as regional stability remains fragile following renewed maritime incidents and a temporary reopening of the strait.

The United States military has forced 27 Iranian ships to change course or return to Iranian ports since April 13, following the imposition of a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the development in a statement on social media, noting that the blockade was ordered by President Donald Trump and has been strictly enforced. The operation aims to halt all commercial maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports, and so far, no vessel has breached the blockade.

CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla stated that the blockade is being conducted with caution and clarified that non-Iranian maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains unaffected. The blockade was imposed after peace talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad failed. Analysts cited in the report said the move is severely impacting Iran’s maritime trade, while Iran has condemned it as a “war crime” and warned of retaliation.

Experts view CENTCOM’s latest disclosure as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Iran while U.S. negotiators remain in Islamabad for a second round of discussions.

Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has denied reports that Moscow provided any military or intelligence assistance to Iran during the ongoing war. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Jalali stated that claims of intelligence support were false and even acknowledged as inaccurate by Western sources. He clarified that all agreements between Iran and Russia were signed before the conflict began and are unrelated to current hostilities.

Jalali also discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is now governed under a new legal framework ensuring safe navigation. He noted that ships can continue to operate under security considerations and legal regulations. However, he did not specify whether any fees would be imposed, mentioning that Iran’s parliament is reviewing various options.

The ambassador added that high-level contacts between Russia and Iran remain active, with only minor delays in some joint projects such as the Rasht-Astara railway and nuclear cooperation initiatives.