Seventh American service member dies in Iran war
A seventh U.S. service member has died from injuries sustained in Iran’s initial counterattack as conflicts continue across the Middle East.
President Donald Trump walked back his criticism of Australia on Monday, March 9, after the US ally offered asylum to Iranian members of the Iranian women’s soccer team.
Five members of the team have accepted offers of asylum in Australia as they await the resumption of international flights to their war-stricken homeland.
It appears the team members were unaware that they were being offered asylum in Australia, but President Trump warned in a social media post on Monday of serious consequences if they were “forced” to return to Iran. He warned that Australia was making a “terrible humanitarian mistake” and wrote directly to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “Don’t do that, Prime Minister, give them asylum. If you don’t, America will take them in.”
An hour later, President Trump took to social media to congratulate Albanese on a “very good job” and said five team members were “already receiving treatment.” President Trump also said that some members of his team “feel they have to return” due to safety concerns for their families, including “their families being threatened if they don’t return.”
“In any case, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job regarding this rather delicate situation,” Trump wrote.
A person familiar with the matter told USA TODAY that none of the players will return to Iran against their will. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs announced that it had offered asylum to the entire team, and that five people, including the team captain, had accepted.
World players’ association FIFPRO said early Monday that it was concerned about Iranian hardliners calling the team “wartime traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem before games. The players’ decision to observe a moment of silence during the Iranian national anthem before their first match against South Korea was branded “the height of disgrace” by commentators on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The team’s advance into the Australian-hosted Asia Cup tournament began just as the United States and Israel began airstrikes on Iran on February 28. The team was eliminated on Sunday, March 8th.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, wrote in a social media post on Monday, March 9, that the players had “evacuated to Australia” and left the team’s training camp.
“These five courageous athletes, who are now in a safe place, have announced that they have joined the Iranian Nation’s Lion and Sun Revolution,” Pahlavi’s office said in a social media post.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
