Iran will NOT compete at the World Cup: Sports minister confirms ‘we have no conditions under which we can participate’ amid conflict with the United States and Israel

Iran will not play at the World Cup, the nation’s sports minister has confirmed amid the ongoing conflict with host country the United States.

The Middle Eastern nation’s place at this summer’s tournament has been in doubt since the US and Israel joined forces to launch wide-ranging strikes on Iran late last month, killing the country’s supreme leader.

‘Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,’ Ahmad Donyamal said in a television interview on Wednesday via RTE.

‘In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.’

The conflict has spread since the initial strikes on February 28 that killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, with retaliatory strikes hitting US bases in neighbouring Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait. 

The World Cup will be staged across the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with Iran due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, as well as Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. 

More to follow.