Trump Urges Australia to Grant Asylum to Iranian Women Footballers Amid Safety Concerns

Amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Australia to grant asylum to members of the Iran women’s national football team, warning that sending them back to their home country could endanger their lives. He described such a move as a serious mistake. The issue emerged during the ongoing Women’s Asian Cup being held in Australia. Following an attack on Iran on February 28, members of the Iranian women’s football team reportedly did not sing the national anthem before their match, an act widely interpreted as a form of protest against the government. After the incident, Iranian media labeled the players as “traitors” and demanded action against them. Posting on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that if the players were sent back to Iran, they could face severe punishment or even death. He added that if Australia was unwilling to offer them asylum, the United States would be prepared to provide them refuge. Following Iran’s elimination from the Asian Cup tournament, Australia granted humanitarian visas to five players from the Iranian women’s national team, allowing them to remain in the country. Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke stated that the players had been taken to a secure location under police protection. The players who received humanitarian visas include Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazadeh and Mona Hamoudi. Authorities also said that the remaining players could stay in Australia if they choose to do so. Last week, the Iranian team did not sing the national anthem ahead of their match against South Korea, which drew criticism from some groups within Iran and led to calls for strict punishment. The situation has raised growing concerns about the safety and security of the players.