FM Zarif: US Wrestling Team to Be Granted Visas for Competition in Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said US wrestlers will be granted visa to compete in this month's Freestyle World Cup in western Iranian city of Kermanshah.
“Following the court ruling suspending #MuslimBan & the requests from Iranian Wrestling Federation & FILA, US Wrestlers' visa will be granted,” Zarif said in a message posted on his official Twitter account on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi also said that the US wrestling team will be given entry visa for participation in the Freestyle World Cup in Iran’s western city of Kermanshah.
Iran had announced earlier that American citizens will be denied visa in retaliation for an executive order by US President Trump that banned all people from Iran and six other predominantly Muslim nations from entering the US.
However, a ruling by a Seattle court put a temporary stop to the travel ban across the US.
Qassemi said the visa request from the US wrestling team was granted considering the federal judge’s ruling that temporarily halted the “discriminatory” ban on Iranian travelers and with regard to requests from presidents of the Iranian Wrestling Federation and the United World Wrestling (formerly known as FILA).
While Trump's travel ban on individuals from seven Muslim countries has been thrown into doubt by US District Judge James Robart’s ruling, a White House statement said the Department of Justice intends to challenge the court’s decision.
Trump’s controversial orders during the first two weeks in office have drawn widespread international protests.
