Iran welcomes US wrestling team after travel ban halted

on February 5, 2017 | 11:21:42

Iran said Sunday it would allow US wrestlers to compete in an international tournament after President Donald Trump’s travel ban was halted by a federal court.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said that Tehran has decided to issue visa for US wrestlers to attend 2017 Freestyle World Cup in Iran.

Qasemi underscored that the decision has been made after a federal judge in Seattle blocked part of US President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order on visa ban and also the demands of the International Wrestling Federation (IWF) and the Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation aimed at issuing visa for the American wrestlers.

The 45th round of the 2017 Freestyle World Cup is scheduled to be held with the attendance of eight top world teams in western province of Kermanshah on February 16-17.

Earlier, Qasemi had announced that Iran won’t issue visa for US wrestling team in response to President Trump’s order to ban entry of citizens of 7 Muslim countries, including Iran to the US.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif also tweeted that US wrestlers’ visa will be granted following the court ruling suspending ‘Muslim Ban’

Meanwhile, a group of 72 academics from the prestigious Sharif University in Tehran signed a letter calling for the government to take the higher ground by offering visas-on-arrival to US citizens.

“(We) request our government to act differently in response to this ungracious action (by the United States),” the letter said, adding that US visitors should be encouraged to experience the “hospitality of peaceful Iranians and Muslims”.

Tasnim news contributed to this report

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