Iran issues statement on women's football team after six claim asylum in Australia
Iran have issued a statement after some members of its women's national team chose to claim asylum in Australia.
The team were in Australia for the Asian Cup, where they lost all three of their group games.
The players arrived in Australia prior to the war in Iran beginning and were eliminated from the tournament after failing to take a point.
Before their opening game against South Korea, Iran players did not sing their national anthem in a huge statement which garnered international attention.
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Iranian state television had branded players “wartime traitors” for their actions.
In response, Donald Trump, who was behind the strikes on Iran, warned that players could face death upon return to their home country and revealed that five had been granted asylum in Australia.
“I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team,” Trump explained on Truth Social on Monday.
“He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return. In any event, the prime minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation.”
Following up, The Independent reported on Wednesday morning that Australia had granted a total of seven humanitarian visas.
One member of Iran delegation performed u-turn
A sixth player joined five others, as did a support staff member. However, Home minister Tony Burke revealed that one member changed their mind and joined the rest of the team on a flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia following conversations.
It is not clear which individual performed a u-turn but Mr Burke stressed that officials spoke with her to "make sure it was her decision” and not one made placed under pressure.
“One of the two who had made the decision to stay last night had spoken to some of the teammates who had left, and had changed her mind," the Home minister told parliament.
“In Australia, people are able to change their mind, people are able to travel. And so, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.”
The six who claimed asylum were relocated for security concerns and are set to be entitled to receive health, housing and other support during their residency in Australia.
The Iranian embassy in Malaysia has said the players intend on returning to Tehran once Iran's airspace reopens and it is safe to travel.
Despite some claims of worries over safety and potential punishments, an Iranian official dismissed suggestions that they would not be protected.
"Iran welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security,” Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said, as per The Times of Israel.
“No one has the right to interfere in the family affairs of the Iranian nation and play the role of a nanny who is kinder than a mother."
Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s football federation, said that Australia had applied pressure to players seeking asylum and claimed the police followed orders from the PM.
Marziyeh Jafari, the manager of the Iran women's team admitted that her players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can”.
Topics: Donald Trump
Josh Lawless