Iran's ambassador slams 'country to the north' over US World Cup visa row
Iran's ambassador to Mexico says the national team still lacks US visas and is not competing on 'equal terms.' Tehran is calling for entry permits for the World Cup.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran's ambassador to Mexico Mansour Haghighatpour said the United States had not granted visas long requested for Iran's World Cup national team. Speaking at a Mexico City news conference, he referred to 'the country to the north' as a direct reference to Washington and said Iran was not competing on 'equal terms.'
A FIFA representative said the latest update was that visa applications for Iran's coaching staff and players had been renewed for the matches under the joint US-Mexico-Canada hosting. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the visa applications were going through 'the standard national-security review process.' Iran's Football Federation has raised the possibility of involving the AFC in the process.
The Mexican government has offered Iran's national team bridge visas under national-authority exemptions, a mechanism occasionally applied for groups participating in matches on the Mexican side. This article is not political-position advice.
More from Middle East
Israel placed on UN sexual violence in war-zones blacklist for first time
BBC Middle East reports that Israel has been added for the first time to the annex of the UN Secretary-General's annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. Israel says it rejects the allegations contained in the report.
Eid and sacrifice in Gaza: third year in a row without animal sacrifice or Hajj
According to Al Jazeera, Eid al-Adha in Gaza this year passed for the third year in a row without animal sacrifice or Hajj. Conflict conditions and restrictions on food and movement have heavily reshaped the holiday's usual rhythms.
Palestinian President Abbas casts vote in decisive Fatah elections
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cast his vote in internal Fatah elections that will reshape the movement's leadership structure. The ballot will set the agenda for governance priorities and succession planning in the post-Gaza war period.