Iran rages after Donald Trump issues new warning to players
Iran’s national football team has issued a defiant response to Donald Trump, declaring that no one has the authority to exclude them from this summer’s World Cup.
The furious statement came after the US President warned the Iranian squad to stay away from the tournament for their own protection.
Tehran’s footballers have instead argued that a host country unable to guarantee the safety of competing teams should forfeit its place.
The team’s official statement stressed that the World Cup remains a historic global competition organised by Fifa rather than any individual nation.
The statement read: “The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its governing body is Fifa, not any individual country.
“Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.
“Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup.
“The only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of “host” yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event”.
Iran’s national football team has issued a defiant response to Donald Trump
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GETTY
Trump had earlier posted on Truth Social that whilst Iran’s national side would be welcome at the World Cup, he did not believe their attendance was appropriate.
The President wrote: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
His comments followed the joint US-Israel missile strike on Iran that resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dramatically escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran ahead of the tournament being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali had previously indicated the team would not travel to the competition, citing impossible circumstances following the killing of their supreme leader.
The US President warned the Iranian squad to stay away from the tournament for their own protection
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GETTY
Speaking on TV, he said: “Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup.
“In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed.
“Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”
Donyamali emphasised that Iranian players faced genuine danger, declaring: “Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.”
The tournament commences on June 11 with the final scheduled for July 19
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GBNEWS
The minister also referenced two wars imposed on Iran over recent months, claiming thousands of citizens had been killed.
The tournament commences on June 11 with the final scheduled for July 19.
Iran has been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with their opening fixture against New Zealand set for June 16.
However, organisers now face a significant headache if they have to find a replacement nation should Iran ultimately withdraw from the competition.
The team had been among the earliest qualifiers for the tournament, securing their place through an impressive run of victories during the qualification campaign.
