Sri Lanka takes control of second Iranian vessel a day after US sub attack

Sri Lanka has taken control of an Iranian naval vessel off its coast, a day after the US sunk an Iranian warship in the same waters - in an attack that killed at least 87 people.

The vessel, the Irins Bushehr, had requested on Wednesday to dock at one of Sri Lanka's ports as one of its engines had malfunctioned. Some 208 members of the vessel have been evacuated.

Sri Lanka allowed it to dock at a north-eastern port after hours of discussion, with its president saying they would "never hesitate to protect humanity".

The South Asian country has stressed its neutrality, saying it would take no sides as it finds itself caught in the middle of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

"Our position has been to safeguard our neutrality while demonstrating our humanitarian values," President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in a statement.

"[Sri Lanka] intervened in a way that demonstrated our commitment to international conventions, protecting the reputation and dignity of our country, and protecting human lives," he said on Thursday.

His statements come after an American submarine on Wednesday torpedoed the Iris Dena - which was struck about 44 nautical miles (81km) off Sri Lanka's southern coast.

The frigate, which was carrying about 180 crew, was part of a multinational naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India and southwest of the Bay of Bengal.

The sinking of the Iris Dena marked an escalation in the widening Middle East conflict.

Iran TV calls women’s soccer team 'traitors' for not singing anthem

(Reuters) – An Iranian state television presenter has labelled the women’s national soccer team as “wartime traitors” after the players did not sing their national anthem before the Asian Cup game against South Korea in Australia.

Iran are playing in the continental tournament even as a military conflict escalates back home after the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes over the weekend, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely. Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem … these people must be dealt with more severely.”

Iran TV calls women’s soccer team 'traitors' for not singing anthem

US president Donald Trump says he does not care if Iran participate in this summer’s World Cup.

The United States and Israel began attacking targets in the country on Saturday, with the conflict in the Middle East since spreading to the wider region.

Iran have qualified for the World Cup, which will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico in June and July, but their presence is now potentially in doubt. They are scheduled to play all three of their group games in the US, with their opener coming against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15th June.

US President Trump told Politico: “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”

Neighbours Iraq are scheduled to face the winners of Bolivia versus Suriname in the intercontinental World Cup play-offs in Monterrey on 31st March with a place at the tournament at stake.

A national team statement said they were continuing discussions with Fifa regarding the match, outlining the issues they were facing.

“Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation are fully aware of every development regarding our team’s situation,” the Iraqi national team said.

“Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Graham Arnold, is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates. In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.”

House rejects war powers resolution to rein in Trump on Iran

The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a war powers resolution to restrict President Donald Trump’s authority to use the U.S. military in Iran.

The vote was 212-219, with four Democrats joining Republicans to torpedo the measure and two Republicans joining Democrats in voting for the measure. The Senate shot down a similar measure on Wednesday.

واکنش تاج به کناره گیری ایران از جام جهانی: باید ببینیم چه خواهد شد

رئیس فدراسیون فوتبال گفت: جام جهانی در کشوری برگزار خواهد شد که کینه توز است و باید ببینیم شرایط چگونه خواهد شد.

Previously silent Iran players sing and salute anthem

Iran's players saluted while singing the country's national anthem before their Asian Cup match against hosts Australia, in contrast to the silence at their opening match on Monday.

Before that defeat by South Korea, the Iranian players had stood still, amid the wider context of escalating conflict following air strikes from the United States and Israel on their homeland.

No official explanation has been offered for their differing approaches but on Wednesday, striker Sara Didar spoke emotionally about being separated from their loved ones.

However, Alireza Mohebbi, an Australia-based correspondent for Iran International TV, told the BBC's partner ABC News there was "no doubt" the players were under instruction to sing.

"It's completely obvious that the Islamic Republic's regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing and do the military salute," he said.

The Iranian team arrived in Australia well before the air strikes on their country by the US and Israel began last Saturday.

More than 1,100 Iranian civilians are estimated to have been killed according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA).

"No-one likes what's happening, no-one wants war," said head coach Marziyeh Jafari.

In the same news conference however, she insisted Iran have "come here to play football".

A 4-0 defeat by Australia on Thursday means they now must beat Philippines on Sunday to have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

Their approach to the national anthem has matched that taken by the men's team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were silent before their first game against England and then sang along before their next match against Wales.

That campaign came against the backdrop of significant domestic protests in Iran over the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini while in police custody.

Before this game, dozens of Iranian-Australians gathered outside the stadium in Gold Coast waving Israeli, Australian and pre-revolution Iranian flags.

Spain-Argentina soccer match in Qatar on track despite missile strikes

March 5 (UPI) -- UEFA still plans to hold the Argentina-Spain soccer match this month in Doha, despite Iranian missile strikes in Qatar, officials said Thursday.

The matchup, set to feature Lionel Messi of Argentina and Lamine Yamal of Spain, among other soccer sensations, is planned for 2 p.m. EST March 27 at Lusail Stadium. The venue also hosted the 2022 World Cup final, when Messi led Argentina past France.

Azerbaijan accuses neighbor Iran of a drone attack and vows to retaliate

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Azerbaijan on Thursday accused Iran of a drone attack on its territory that injured four civilians, and it vowed to retaliate in a sign that the war in the Middle East was spreading.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Iranian drones attacked its exclave of Nakhchivan and damaged an airport building.

President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of carrying out “a groundless act of terror and aggression,” and said his military has been told to prepare and implement retaliatory measures.

Iran’s general staff of the armed forces denied it had launched a drone toward Azerbaijan's territory. Iran has repeatedly denied targeting oil infrastructure and other civilian targets in the war, despite its drone and missile fire hitting those sites.

Senate votes down resolution to prevent Trump from continuing war with Iran

War powers vote broke along party lines with almost all Democrats in support and most Republicans opposed

US to wind down Iran operations within days

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