Iran to skip World Cup unless US avoids insulting IRGC, football federation chief says

A source with long experience at Iran’s Aseman Airlines told Iran International that the carrier’s fleet has shrunk from 24 aircraft to just three, one of which is often grounded.

The source said the remaining planes suffer from serious technical issues, while frequent management changes have added to operational instability. Employees have also gone months without pay, the source added.

A senior US State Department official urged Iraqi leaders to take concrete action against militias embedded within state institutions, saying Washington is looking for “action, not words,” Asharq News reported.

The official said there is a “very blurry line” between the Iraqi state and armed groups, calling for militias to be removed from government institutions, cut off from state funding, and denied salaries.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters are playing a key role in enforcing the US naval blockade against Iran.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said a Sea Hawk helicopter had taken off from the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) in the Arabian Sea, adding that the aircraft are supporting blockade operations.

Reports on Wednesday morning said sounds of explosions were heard in Qeshm, Bandar Abbas and Sirik in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province.

According to reports, the sounds were heard at around 1:30 AM local time. A message sent to Iran International also said additional explosion-like noises were heard around 4:00 AM, reportedly coming from the direction of Larak Island.

Following the reports, the public relations office of Hormozgan provincial authorities said the sounds in Qeshm were the result of countermeasures against micro aerial vehicles and reconnaissance drones. It added that no impact, damage or explosion had occurred in Qeshm.

A cargo ship in the Persian Gulf region was struck by a possible land-attack cruise missile, leaving several crew members injured, two US officials told CBS News.

The vessel, identified as CGM San Antonio and owned by a French company, was hit late Tuesday evening local time, according to the officials. The ship was reportedly near Dubai earlier in the day, though its current position remains unclear based on public tracking data.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said it had received a report that “a cargo vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile.”

UKMTO reported several other incidents involving ships in the region since Sunday, including a fire, a projectile strike, and an attack involving small craft.