(ATR) The United States freestyle wrestling team is clear to compete in Iran at an upcoming World Cup event.
Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif confirmed on social media yesterday that the wrestling team would receive visas, reversing a decision taken late last week.
"Following the court ruling…and the requests from Iranian Wrestling Federation, [United World Wrestling], US Wrestlers' visa will be granted," Zarif said.
A spokesperson for USA Wrestling said the federation had no comment on the decision at this time.
USA Wrestling had always planned to go to the Feb. 16-17 Kermanshah, Iran World Cup event, even as Iranian officials said they would be denying the team visas. The visa row comes from a recent executive order from the United States temporarily barring travel from seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Iran.
The merits of the order are currently being tested in the U.S. court system, after a federal judge ruling temporarily halted its implementation.
USA Wrestling said last week it never received "official documentation" stating that wrestlers’ visas would be denied. A statement from the organization said if the wrestlers were barred from competing it would present an "unacceptable situation."
"The Freestyle World Cup is the annual World dual meet championship, one of the most important events that United World Wrestling hosts each year," Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling spokesperson, said. "Wrestling is about competition and goodwill through sport, and is no place for politics."
Written by Aaron Bauer
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