Iran urges women footballers given asylum to come home: They killed schoolgirls

Australia granted asylum to five members of Iran's women's football team, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, after they sought humanitarian protection. Tehran has urged the players to return home, while the case has drawn attention worldwide amid the Iran war.

Australia granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s football team, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, who sought protection from authorities while visiting the country for AFC Women’s Asian Cup, as US and Israel jointly launched attack on Iran. Tehran has now appealed to footballers to return home after the news surfaced.

In a post on X, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote: "They slaughtered more than 165 innocent Iranian schoolgirls in a double-tap Tomahawk attack in the city of Minab, and now they want to take our athletes hostage in the name of saving them?"

Esmaeil Baghaei referred to a US airstrike on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab. The attack killed more than 165 students and staff, most of them schoolgirls. The Pentagon has not confirmed responsibility and has said it is investigating the incident.

"The audacity and hypocrisy are staggering. To Iran's Women's football team: don’t worry—Iran awaits you with open arms. Come home," he added. Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted the players will be safe if they return.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref also said the country would welcome them back.

"Iran welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security," he said.