The comments come as peace talks between Iran and the United States have not yet resumed and a cease-fire is set to expire next week.
The comments come as peace talks between Iran and the United States have not yet resumed and a cease-fire is set to expire next week.
Five of the seven members of the Iranian women’s national team who originally sought asylum in Australia after a tournament have changed their minds.
Seven members of the national women’s team had sought refuge in the country after they were labeled “traitors” at home. Four of them have since changed their minds.
Concern for the safety of the players had grown after Iranian state media criticized them for not singing the national anthem at a game in Australia.
The athletes, who are set to head home, were called “traitors” by Iran’s state media after they didn’t sing their national anthem during a match in Australia.
Soccer’s global governing body is grappling with a World Cup first: a tournament host going to war with a participating nation.
The national soccer team made it to the knockout stages of the Arab Cup for the first time, uniting fans from Gaza to the West Bank to Cairo to Arab cities in Israel.
The two countries, which criminalize homosexuality and impose severe punishments for it, were picked to play on a day celebrating L.G.B.T.Q. communities.
A soccer governing body that both countries have helped bankroll gave them extra rest and home-field advantage to set up World Cup qualification.