Iran Envoy Says U.S. and Tehran Can Be Friends if Washington Ignores Israel
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 13
Iran Envoy Says U.S. and Tehran Can Be Friends if Washington Ignores Israel
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 13
Summary
Abolfazl Pasandideh said Iran’s decision to send its team to the World Cup on U.S. soil during wartime shows Tehran is signaling peace, and told President Donald Trump to “respect our nation.”
The ambassador tied any opening to Washington putting U.S. interests first rather than Israel’s, saying Iran would answer good-faith gestures positively but was ready to respond to any new aggression.
Visa denials for some Iranian coaching staff have already disrupted tournament preparations, he said, after the team shifted its pre-World Cup camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.
Pasandideh said Iran expects 1 win and 1 draw in the group stage and still plans to enter the United States two days before matches under FIFA rules, while hoping a broader U.S.-Iran deal could ease travel restrictions.