When Iran takes to the field on Monday for the first game of its World Cup, Sara Barahman will be among the thousands of protesters outside the stadium waving a very specific flag: the one used by the country before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

If these banners —- featuring a lion and sun over green, white, and red stripes —- make it inside the venue, the Iranian team has threatened to halt its match against New Zealand.

But the political science student couldn't care less.

Iranian football legend Khodadad Azizi, who played in the first World Cup meeting between Iran and the United States in 1998, has told AFP that football should promote "peace" and remain separate from politics.

Azizi, 54, was speaking as Iran prepare to play their first match at the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, the country they have been at war with since February.

Nicknamed Team Melli, Iran will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, hoping to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.

June 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that ending the conflict in Ukraine was vital and he was ready to help, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov as saying.

Ushakov also said Trump told Putin that an agreement on ending the conflict with Iran was nearly complete and the Kremlin leader expressed satisfaction that hostilities would end.

Ushakov also said Putin offered Trump congratulations on his 80th birthday in an "informal" way.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

By Steven Scheer, Maya Gebeily, Nayera Abdallah and Eman Abouhassira

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT June 14 (Reuters) - Israel said its military attacked Hezbollah targets in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday after the Iran-aligned armed group fired into Israeli territory, and the Lebanese state news agency said two people were killed.

The Israeli military said earlier that Hezbollah had launched three projectiles towards communities in northern Israel, calling it a blatant ceasefire violation.

By Emily Green and Herbert Villarraga

TIJUANA, Mexico, June 14 (Reuters) - Some 25 miles (40 km) south of the U.S.-Mexico border, nestled between taquerias in the suburbs of Tijuana, hangs a flag in the Mexican colors of green, white and red. But its design is far from common in these parts.

Inside is what owner Saied Assadi says is only the second Iranian restaurant in all of Mexico. "Food is one of my passions," he said when Reuters visited this week, as he served up a traditional Iranian platter of rice, grilled tomatoes, mixed meats and salad.

Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, killing three people, in response to what it said was Hezbollah fire at northern Israel, while its military also carried out broader strikes on southern Lebanon.

The latest escalation came amid expectations that a deal between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war could be imminent, but Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said there was "no point" in continuing peace talks with Washington after the strike.

Tehran insists a ceasefire in Lebanon must be part of any deal.

DUBAI, June 14 (Reuters) - A senior Iranian official told Reuters a final draft of the memorandum of understanding with the U.S. covered a range of issues from Tehran’s nuclear work to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. waivers on oil sanctions, with a final deal to be discussed in the 60 days following agreement by the two sides.

The Iranian official said the draft memorandum included the following:

STRAIT OF HORMUZ:

* Iran immediately reopens the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels, while the U.S. lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports

By Phil Stewart, Eman Abouhassira and Saad Sayeed

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, June 13 (Reuters) - U.S. and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement to end fighting between the United States and Iran, but Tehran cast doubt over the timing and hardline protesters in Iran voiced opposition.

By Rory Carroll

LOS ANGELES, June 13 (Reuters) - Iran open their World Cup Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday in a match shaped as much by events off the pitch as by the ambitions of two teams seeking a long-awaited breakthrough.

The fixture will be played against the backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran and in a region home to the largest Iranian community outside the country, adding a charged atmosphere to a contest between two nations who have never met at the World Cup.

June 13 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed efforts to end the Iran conflict during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Downing Street said on Saturday.

Starmer welcomed progress made so far and reiterated that Britain stands ready to support the implementation of any peace agreement and work with international partners to ensure its success.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to restore freedom of navigation to ease global economic impact.

(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru)