Iran is accusing U.S. officials of denying visas to key staffers on its national soccer team ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on North American soil next week.
It’s the latest diplomatic standoff between the two countries, who have been at war since the U.S. and Israel first launched missiles at Iran in late February. The two sides are yet to agree to a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and sufficiently curtail Tehran’s nuclear program in the eyes of President Donald Trump, reportedly hung up over whether an agreement would unlock billions of dollars in funds for Iran.
And now, just days before Iran’s soccer team gets set to take on New Zealand’s on June 15 in Los Angeles, the country’s embassy in Turkey is accusing the Americans of “the worst possible form of politically biased interference in sport.”
“By extending your whimsical hostilities against the Iranian nation into the realm of sport, the U.S. government in practice is depriving Iran’s national team of its right to play in the World Cup under normal conditions and without undue pressure and stress,” the embassy wrote on X.
The statement was in response to a post by U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who wrote on X Friday that he was proud of his team for processing visas for the Iranian soccer squad en route to the U.S.
“You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFA regulations and breaches the United States’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves,” the embassy wrote in a response to Barrack. “Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team?”
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that “the visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued.”
“We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses,” the agency said.
That Iran is even participating in the World Cup comes as something of a surprise. In March, Trump wrote on Truth Social that while Iran was welcome for the festivities, he didn’t “believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
But FIFA President Gianni Infantino has long maintained that Tehran should remain a participant. After its matchup against New Zealand, the country will take on Belgium and then Egypt to round out group play. Its home base for the tournament is in Tijuana, Mexico — a change from pre-war plans for the team to be based in Tucson, Arizona.
Iran isn’t the only entity running into trouble with U.S. visa restrictions. Swiss striker Breel Embolo was denied entry into the country last week after his travel authorization was placed under further review. He reportedly finally received his visa on Thursday.
On Friday, Gianni Merlo, the president of the International Sports Press Association, wrote a letter to FIFA calling out “the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues” from Iran and Africa.
“The cases are countless and, I repeat, unacceptable,” he wrote. “Politicians always say that sport unites and builds bridges between young people in countries in conflict, but in this case, we are going in the opposite direction.”
Iran says national team staff denied visas for World Cup
Source: Viral Showbiz Pinay
0 Comments