Iran international footballer goes missing after now-deleted anti-Khamenei post

Former Iran international goalkeeper Rashid Mazaheri has gone missing after condemning ex-leader Ali Khamenei.

Amid increasing tensions between the United States and Iran, it was confirmed on February 28 that , the Trump administration had conducted "major combat operations" against the country.

Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, have claimed that the attacks were to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to allow citizens to overthrow the country's supreme leader, Khamenei.

Hours after initial attacks started, Trump confirmed that Khamenei had been killed, putting an end to his 36-year rule which has been described by UK defence secretary John Healey as 'evil'.

But, despite the death of Khamenei, a ex-footballer who had spoken out against Iran's leader has now gone missing just hours after a social media post condemning him.

Rashid Mazaheri played for Iran during qualification the 2018 World Cup. (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Iranian footballer Rashid Mazaheri played for several Iran Pro League clubs including Esteghlal and Sepahan as well as the Iranian national team during his career.

However, he found himself in trouble with the Iranian government last week as, according to IranWire, security agents raided his home after he compared Khamenei to Satan in a social media post.

The Instagram post, which came just days before the US began attacking Iran, shared an image Khamenei labeled “Satan,” with the caption: “Your command over this divine land has come to an end."

During the search, security forces took Mazaheri's electronic devices and told him that he would soon be arrested under a judicial warrant.

Following the raid on his home, this social media post was deleted, but his wife, Maryam Abdollahi. supported his decision on her own social media, stating that his life may be in danger but his honour was not.

But now, just days after the raid took place, Mazaheri's wife has revealed that she has had no contact with her husband for more than 48 hours.

Rashid Mazaheri has gone missing. (Image: Mohammad Karamali/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

It is not clear when exactly Mazaheri went missing, what has led to his disappearance or if it is connected to his social media post.

But it comes after The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Fars News, via Iran International, claimed on Wednesday that summons had been issued for the footballer over an alleged 4-billion-toman (£16,360) fraud.

His wife has denied the validity of these reports, calling them a “carefully engineered lie meant to cover up the truth.”

“Any reports suggesting his arrest over financial matters are fabricated lies meant to hide the truth," she posted on Instagram.

“Rashid knew about these traps and has stood courageously, remaining in his homeland. His bravery cannot be hidden behind these dirty scenarios," she said.