Iran accuses Australia of taking women’s soccer team ‘hostage’ after players claimed asylum

Iran has accused Australia of taking athletes “hostage” as it emerged that one of the women who claimed asylum has changed her mind and will return to the Middle East.

Esmail Baghaei Hamaneh, an Iranian diplomat and current Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran made the extraordinary claim on social media as news emerged that one of the women had backflipped.

“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?,‘’ he said.

“The audacity and hypocrisy are staggering.”

“To Iran’s Women’s football team: don’t worry — Iran awaits you with open arms. Come home.”

In Parliament, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed that one of the two members of the Iranian women’s football squad who were granted humanitarian visas overnight has changed her mind and will return home.

“I was advised that one of the two who had made the decision to stay last night had spoken to some of the teammates who had left and had changed her mind,” he said.

“In Australia, people are able to change their mind, people are able to travel. So, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.”

Burke said that as a result of the disclosure the remaining women had been moved to protect the women from Iranian Government operatives in Australia.

Burke told Parliament that all of the remaining women to a new safe house.

“I immediately gave the instruction for people to be moved and that’s been dealt with immediately,” he said.

“I think we can all be very proud of the Australian Federal Police, of officials, of everybody who’s been involved.”