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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دونالد ترامپ: موضوع حضور تیم فوتبال ایران در جام‌جهانی برایم مهم نیست

«یاهو نیوز» در گزارشی از واکنش «دونالد ترامپ» رییس جمهور آمریکا در قبال احتمال عدم حضور تیم فوتبال جمهوری اسلامی در رقابت‌های جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶ خبر داده و نوشته است: «نخستین تیمی که جواز صعود به این دوره جام جهانی را به دست آورد، مشخص نیست که در مسابقات شرکت خواهد داشت یا نه.» یاهو نیوز نوشته که دونالد ترامپ در گفت‌وگوی تلفنی اختصاصی با «پولیتیکو»، در پاسخ به این پرسش که «آیا تیم فوتبال ایران در جام جهانی آمریکا حضور خواهد داشت یا نه» گفته است: «این موضوع برایم مهم نیست.»