Article by Viory
Members of the Iranian women’s national football team have returned to Tehran after several players withdrew asylum requests submitted in Australia.
Footage shows players walking over flags of the United States and Israel after arriving. The date and location of the video could not be independently verified.
State-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that the team travelled from Australia via Malaysia and Turkey, entering Iran through the Bazargan land border crossing on Wednesday. Reception events were held in Tabriz, Zanjan and Qazvin, as well as in a public square in Tehran.
According to the report, five players had initially applied for asylum in Australia but later withdrew their requests before rejoining the squad in Kuala Lumpur, where the team had been staying after leaving Sydney.
The Iranian Football Federation said the players would return with the team to reunite with their families.
Earlier, federation head Mehdi Taj accused US President Donald Trump of holding the team ‘hostage’.
On March 9, Trump posted on Truth Social, warning that sending the players back to Iran would be a ‘terrible humanitarian mistake’, adding “the US will take them if you won’t.”
The situation drew attention after a presenter on Iranian state television described the players as ‘traitors in wartime’ for not singing the national anthem during a match at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Reports also indicated that activists and fans stopped the team bus, raising concerns about the players’ safety.
The developments come amid volatile regional tensions following joint military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.
Tehran has since launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US assets across the region, with the conflict expanding to include Hezbollah.
During the escalation, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed and later succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.
The crisis has also disrupted shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and adding pressure to global markets.
Article by Viory
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