Iran FA denies US claims regarding revolutionary guard incident

The Iranian Football Federation has issued a firm denial regarding recent allegations made by the United States government. During a Sunday appearance on Fox News, US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin claimed that an individual with "direct ties" to the Revolutionary Guard had attempted to board the aircraft transporting the Iranian national team from Tijuana to Los Angeles.

In an official statement, the Iranian federation condemned the remarks, labeling them as a "series of false, invented, and totally unfounded allegations." The organization asserted that the claim is baseless and that those who formulated it are fully aware that no such incident occurred.

The federation also addressed the broader context of travel restrictions, suggesting that the rhetoric is a deliberate attempt to justify visa refusals for members of their delegation, including president Mehdi Taj. They characterized the accusations as a clear attempt to mask discriminatory behavior.

The Iranian body has demanded the publication of any evidence supporting these allegations, arguing that the claims were made to damage the reputation of Iranian football and disrupt their participation in the tournament. The federation indicated that it intends to pursue the matter further.