5 hours ago
Three more members of the Iranian women's football delegation, who were granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia, have reversed their decision and will return to Iran.
Human rights activists in the Iranian diaspora have identified the trio as Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali.
Concerns for the team arose after they remained silent during Iran's national anthem in their opening Asian Cup match against South Korea on March 2, leading to accusations of being "war traitors" in Iran.
Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the decisions, stating that the government had done everything possible to offer the women a safe future in Australia.
"Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced genuine choices and engaged with authorities seeking to help them," Burke said. "While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions."
Iran's Sports Ministry also confirmed the news in a statement reported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency.
"The national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women's national football team defeated the enemy's plans against this team," the statement said, accusing the Australian government of "playing in Trump's field."
Tasnim reported that the three were en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to rejoin the rest of the squad, describing their return as "to the warm embrace of their families and homeland after withdrawing their asylum application in Australia."
The agency added that they had resisted "psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers."
This means that of the seven players who initially sought to stay in Australia, only three remain as asylum seekers. One player had already decided to return to Iran on Wednesday.
Hamoudi and Sarbali were among five players who initially escaped their minders at the team's hotel on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, last Monday before being taken to a safe house by Australian Federal Police.
Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, a member of the team's technical staff, was one of two additional women who sought asylum the following day. The other, Mohaddeseh Zolfi, changed her mind hours after being granted the right to stay and is understood to have rejoined the team.
There were concerns in Australia that the players and their families might face repercussions in Iran after the anthem incident. A conservative commentator on Iranian state media labeled them "wartime traitors" and called for harsh punishment.
The team sang the anthem in their last two games before being eliminated on Sunday, leading critics to believe they were instructed to do so by government officials accompanying them during the tournament.
The remaining Iranian players departed Australia on Tuesday night local time, two days after their Asian Cup exit.
Additional reporting by Goncheh Habibiazad
