As reported by The Times of Israel, March 8, 2026, Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi has urged the Australian government to take steps to safeguard members of Iran’s women’s national football team, warning that the players may face intimidation and serious consequences from authorities in Tehran. His appeal follows a moment of defiance during the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, when members of the Iranian squad reportedly refused to sing the Islamic Republic’s national anthem. According to Pahlavi, that act of protest has placed the athletes in a vulnerable position, raising fears about their safety should they return home after the tournament.
“The members of the Iranian Women’s National Football Team are under significant pressure and ongoing threat from the Islamic Republic,” Pahlavi said in a post on X. His remarks highlight what he described as a pattern of pressure exerted by the Iranian government against individuals who publicly dissent from state symbols or official narratives. The refusal to sing the anthem, widely viewed by observers as a symbolic act of civil disobedience, has therefore drawn heightened attention to the players and their future.
“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran. I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support,” he added. See_More…