U.S. Keeps Iran's 24-Hour World Cup Travel Curbs as 27-Minute Tijuana Return Stands
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 20
U.S. Keeps Iran's 24-Hour World Cup Travel Curbs as 27-Minute Tijuana Return Stands
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 20
Summary
Andrew Giuliani said Iran will still fly back to its Tijuana base 27 minutes after Sunday's match with Belgium, while U.S. officials review arrangements for Friday's game against Egypt in Seattle.
The U.S. defended the restrictions as a security measure, saying all Iran players and coaches received visas but some team officials were denied after authorities found derogatory information on them.
Giuliani said moving Iran's base from Tucson to Tijuana cut travel time to Los Angeles by about an hour and that officials were satisfied with how the first match was handled.
No credible threats to the World Cup have been identified, Giuliani said, though the intelligence community has intensified monitoring as Washington says it is balancing tournament access with protection of U.S. and foreign visitors.