Driving the news:
The ceremony brought together senior sports officials, federation heads, athletes, and families of martyrs, underscoring Iran’s steadfast support for Palestine through what officials described as principled sportsmanship.
Why it matters:
The athletes’ refusal to compete against representatives of the Israeli regime underscores broader opposition to Israel’s policies toward the Palestinian people and reflects Iran’s steadfast commitment to resistance against oppression.
State of play:
The event, held Monday afternoon, was attended by Seyyed Mohammad Shervin Asbaghian, Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth for the Development of Championship and Professional Sports, alongside several sports federation heads, athletes, and veterans.
Twenty athletes from various sports disciplines were honored during the ceremony.
What he is saying:
Mehdi Mirjalili, Head of the Athletes Mobilization Organization, said,
“The true heroes and warriors are those who have refused to compete against athletes of the Zionist regime. Today, the father of martyr Parsa Mansour, his only child, who was martyred in this twelve-day imposed war, joins us at this honorable ceremony. We owe a profound duty of gratitude to you, the enduring heroes.”
Mohammad Shervin Esbaghian, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Sports for the Development of Championship and Professional Sports, said, “We must understand the historical moment we are in, our place in history, and how we stand today. Our proud sports community played a role in the Twelve-Day War. The valuable military salute by all the country’s athletes, particularly the national youth volleyball team, reflected our religious identity.”
Key points:
- Iranian athletes have repeatedly declined to compete against representatives of the Zionist regime.
- The issue has gained renewed prominence amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
Go deeper:
Iran praised athletes’ decision not to compete against Israeli opponents, framing sports within a broader moral and principled context.
Zohre Khazaee - M.a.Mahmoudi
