US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States may resume military operations against Iran after ongoing peace talks failed to achieve expected progress. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, he said Washington is prepared to take tough measures and hinted that civilian infrastructure could be considered as potential targets if necessary. Trump cited the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz as one of the reasons for possible military retaliation.

Trump noted that his administration has been working for months toward a settlement with Tehran, describing the proposed deal as potentially beneficial for Iran. However, he expressed frustration over the slow pace of negotiations and accused Iran of deliberately stalling. When asked whether power plants or bridges could be targeted, he did not rule it out, instead criticizing Tehran for wasting time.

Experts warned that targeting civilian infrastructure would raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns under international law. Analysts said the combination of peace talks and military threats could complicate diplomacy and risk escalating the Middle East conflict further.

The United States faces new uncertainty ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as nearly 2,000 hospitality workers at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium have voted in favor of a strike. The $5.5 billion venue, to be known as Los Angeles Stadium during the tournament, is scheduled to host eight matches, including the host nation’s opening game against Paraguay on June 12. According to The Wall Street Journal, 96 percent of union members supported the strike authorization.

Unionized workers, including servers, bartenders, cooks, and other service staff, are demanding better wages, protection against subcontracting, and job security. They have also expressed concern over recent immigration enforcement fears. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said federal authorities will assist with security during the matches but clarified that they will not enforce immigration laws.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, stated that workers are struggling to pay rent despite the expected profits from the World Cup. Legends Global, the company managing food and hospitality operations, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement through negotiations. Failure to do so could disrupt the United States–Paraguay match and other fixtures at the venue.

Former England footballer Ian Wright has sharply criticized the United States after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry just one day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. Artan, selected as one of 52 match officials by FIFA and set to become the first Somali referee in World Cup history, was stopped at Miami airport by US border authorities despite holding a valid visa and documents. After extended questioning, he was declared ineligible and sent back, with US Customs and Border Protection citing “vetting concerns.” FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not officiate in the tournament.

Wright expressed outrage in a social media video, calling the event a “World Cup of chaos.” He criticized the organizers for high costs and poor management, saying the situation embarrassed US football fans. The incident follows other visa and travel complications affecting officials and supporters from several countries, including Iran.

FIFA stated it has no control over national visa or immigration policies, emphasizing that such decisions rest solely with the host governments of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

U.S. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply criticized a section of the American defense budget that would further integrate the U.S. and Israeli military forces. In a post on social media platform X, Sanders said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying for the provision, known as Section 224, which he claims would quietly expand U.S.-Israel military cooperation and weapons development with almost no oversight. Sanders asserted that the American people no longer want any U.S. military assistance to Israel and urged that Section 224 must be blocked.

Under Section 224, the U.S. Secretary of Defense would be required to appoint an executive agent to coordinate all aspects of military cooperation between the two countries. The coordination would include joint research and development, co-production of weapons, and integration of military systems and data networks. If passed, the bill would also expand collaboration in advanced warfare areas such as artificial intelligence, drones, and cyber operations.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights growing debate over the scope and transparency of U.S.-Israel defense collaboration.

NASA has announced the names of four astronauts for its highly anticipated Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for late 2027. The crew includes Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Luca Parmitano, with test pilot Bob Hines serving as backup. The two-week mission will focus on scientific research in space and docking exercises to prepare for future lunar landings.

The mission will be conducted through a public-private partnership involving three rocket launches. The astronauts will travel aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will dock with lander models developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. Concerns arose after a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a test on May 28, damaging the Cape Canaveral launch site, but NASA officials expressed confidence in meeting the 2027 schedule.

Artemis 3 aims to maintain U.S. leadership in space exploration amid competition with China, which plans to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. NASA has revised the mission plan to remain in low Earth orbit rather than land on the Moon, reducing risks and paving the way for future lunar bases before 2030.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that a potential war involving Iran would not turn into a prolonged quagmire for Washington similar to Iraq or Afghanistan. In an interview with USA Today, he expressed strong confidence that the United States would not face renewed debates over deep involvement in Iran in the coming years.

Vance emphasized that he believes the US will succeed in its current approach. He added that even if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, the President still has alternative options available. According to him, as long as the administration remains focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the situation will not evolve into a long-term entanglement.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect the administration’s assurance that its Iran policy will remain controlled and limited in scope.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a café named Post Modern Times has gained attention for abandoning traditional pricing and allowing customers to pay what they can—or nothing at all. Owner Dylan Alverson, who ran the café under the name Modern Times for 15 years, made the change earlier this year after violent incidents during a federal anti-immigration operation. As a protest against paying sales tax, he declared the restaurant would operate entirely on a free and donation-based model.

Initially a political statement, the move evolved into a social and economic experiment. Alverson reports that 40 to 50 percent of customers now eat without paying, yet business performance has improved. The café maintains its quality with homemade bread and locally sourced ingredients, attracting both supporters of social solidarity and those in need. Some neighbors have expressed concern that free meals could attract crime, but the management emphasizes safety and community support.

The new model has expanded the café’s income sources through merchandise sales and donations, turning Post Modern Times into a symbol of community unity and alternative economic thinking.

A US federal court in Boston has struck down former President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, ruling that the president lacked constitutional authority to levy such a charge. District Judge Leo Sorokin issued a 42-page decision declaring the fee illegal, stating that it functioned as a tax rather than a regulatory fee, and that only Congress has the power to impose taxes under the US Constitution. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic attorneys general after the Trump administration introduced the fee in September of the previous year.

The court found that the administration’s reliance on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) did not grant authority to impose taxes. Judge Sorokin also referenced a 2026 Supreme Court precedent that questioned the legal basis of Trump’s earlier tariff policies. The Trump administration had justified the fee as a measure to protect American workers from foreign competition under the H-1B program.

The decision is viewed as a relief for the US technology sector, which depends heavily on skilled foreign workers. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta had secured thousands of H-1B visas in early 2025, underscoring the program’s importance to the industry.

A United States military helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to reports published Tuesday. The aircraft, identified as an Apache helicopter, was carrying two crew members who were safely rescued. Their physical condition has not been clarified by US media sources.

The New York Times, citing two sources, reported that it remains unclear whether the helicopter was shot down, suffered a mechanical failure, or crashed for another reason. Both the White House and the US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, have declined to comment on the incident.

The crash occurred as renewed hostilities erupted between Israel and Iran, with both sides exchanging missile and counter-missile attacks since Sunday night. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has reportedly shot down around 30 Reaper drones and destroyed several fighter jets, but this marks the first loss of a US Apache helicopter during the ongoing conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran and Israel will avoid attacking each other for at least one week. Speaking about recent hostilities, Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been attacked and responded in kind, adding that he could not blame him for doing so. According to Trump, both sides have now settled the matter and agreed to hold off further actions for about a week.

Trump also mentioned that the United States is in the final stage of negotiating a major agreement designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He indicated that once the deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, possibly within the next two or three days.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, suggest a temporary pause in hostilities and a potential diplomatic breakthrough involving the U.S. and Iran, though details of the agreement remain undisclosed.

Somali referee Omar Abdulqadir Artan, set to make history as the first from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, has been denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 tournament. Despite holding a diplomatic passport and valid FIFA accreditation, US immigration authorities at Miami International Airport refused him entry and sent him back. He is currently in transit at Istanbul Airport. The US Customs and Border Protection has not clarified the reason for the denial, though American media have linked it to the Trump administration’s travel ban affecting several countries, including Somalia.

Following emergency discussions with US officials, FIFA confirmed that Artan will not be able to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. The organization stated it has no authority over host nation visa or immigration decisions. Somalia’s Football Federation and Sports Ministry have expressed strong anger over the incident, calling it a humiliating setback. Fans on social media have condemned the decision as political interference in sports.

Longtime ties between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be permanently damaged following Israel’s repeated bombings in Iran, according to a report cited by Al Jazeera. The information was attributed to Tim Constantine, a writer for The Washington Post and host of The Capitol Hill Show, who described Trump’s recent anger and disappointment toward Netanyahu as unprecedented.

Al Jazeera reported that Trump and Netanyahu spoke on Monday, after which the U.S. president posted on social media urging both Israel and Iran to immediately stop the fighting. Constantine suggested that Trump’s frustration had reached a level from which their once warm and friendly relationship might never recover.

The report underscores growing tension between Washington and Tel Aviv over Israel’s military actions in Iran, signaling a possible long-term shift in the personal and political dynamics between the two leaders.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States will declare a 'final victory' over Iran within the next two weeks. He made the remarks while virtually addressing a rally organized in support of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who is contesting in Tuesday’s primary election. Trump stated that discussions with Iran are ongoing and claimed that Tehran is willing to make a favorable deal, including pledging not to possess nuclear weapons.

Trump added that he believes the U.S. is winning the fight and that the upcoming declaration will mark a complete victory, which he said would lead to a sharp drop in oil prices. The statement follows earlier promises of progress within similar two-week timelines. A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was announced on April 8, initially set to last two weeks, during which both sides were expected to finalize a peace agreement.

The remarks were reported by CNN and suggest that Washington may soon announce a major diplomatic or strategic development regarding Iran.

Amid ongoing Middle East tensions, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly had a severe disagreement over Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. According to US Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa, the dispute became so heated that Trump nearly came to physical confrontation with Netanyahu. Issa made the remarks after meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, noting that Washington is closely monitoring the situation and that Trump receives daily updates on Lebanon.

Al Jazeera reported that the disagreement centered on Israel’s recent airstrikes near Beirut and Iran’s missile attack on Israel, which Issa described as carrying political messages. A US official confirmed that Trump and Netanyahu held a new phone conversation in recent hours, during which Trump urged Israel to refrain from launching further attacks, fearing such actions could hinder ongoing US-Iran diplomatic talks.

Sources indicated that Netanyahu initially objected to Trump’s request but later partially agreed. Despite persistent regional tensions, Trump has been working actively over the past 48 hours to project control, though observers believe the risk of escalation remains.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s billions of dollars in frozen assets will not be released until a permanent ceasefire agreement formally ends the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump stated that the release of Iranian funds would only be considered after a deal is signed and if Tehran demonstrates good behavior. He also warned that the U.S. is either very close to a deal or prepared to launch a severe attack.

Iranian officials have indicated that without partial release of the frozen assets, a ceasefire agreement may not be possible. Iran’s state media reported that Tehran is demanding the release of 12 to 24 billion dollars as part of the deal, describing it as a test of trust. The frozen assets, estimated at over 100 billion dollars, have been held in foreign banks due to international sanctions.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, tensions remain high. Iran’s parliament speaker warned of possible retaliation for Israeli strikes in Beirut and U.S. naval blockades, while a U.S. official told Al Jazeera that Washington holds Hezbollah fully responsible for the Lebanon conflict.