White House Flips Out Over FBI Warning of Iran Attack on U.S. Soil

In December, the State Department did not grant visas to all Iranian officials who planned to attend the World Cup draw in Washington, DC. Iran threatened to boycott the ceremony, prompting FIFA, international football’s governing body, to intervene. This time, however, Iran’s sports minister said Wednesday that the country would not participate in the competition.

“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]“There are no conditions that allow us to participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali said on Iranian state television. If Iran follows through and does not participate, it would be confront a heavy fine and a possible ban from participating in future international competitions.

Iran was drawn in Group G of the tournament and is scheduled to face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, not far from Los Angeles’s huge Iranian diaspora community, nicknamed “”Tehrangeles.” But the chances of them being able to see the team play live are diminishing.