A man connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was prevented from entering the US with the Islamic Republic’s national soccer team, according to Department of Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin.
The unidentified man was posing as the president of Iran’s soccer federation when he was stopped as the team was gearing up to fly from Tijuana, Mexico for its World Cup game against Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, Mullin told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“When we started doing the research on him, he had only been put in place since 2022, and we didn’t allow him to board the plane,’ Mullin said, adding that the man who attempted to board the plane had “direct ties to IRGC.”
IRGC is a multi-branch paramilitary force that reports directly to the Supreme Leader of Iran. It’s been designated a terrorist organization by more than a dozen countries, including the US and the European Union.
The incident is the latest in the ongoing tug-of-war between Iranian soccer officials who have sought more freedom to travel within the US during the World Cup and DHS, which has erred on the side of caution amid the ongoing hostilities between the countries.
Mullin said he’s had “multiple conversations” with FIFA President Gianni Infantino about travel restrictions imposed on Iran but didn’t give any additional details.
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has claimed his team has been subject to “unfair” treatment during the tournament, which has made traveling into and out of the US for their games a challenge.
The Tijuana dust-up comes as the Trump administration is working to bring about an end to the war which has been raging for nearly four months.
Iranian negotiators stormed out of high-level peace talks with the US in Switzerland over the weekend as President Trump threatened to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz and “blow the s–t out of” the regime.
“You won’t even make it back to your f–king country,” an irate Trump told Iran’s leaders, according to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst.
The fiery exchange dashed hopes of advancing diplomatic efforts as the head of Iran’s parliament, Mohammed Ghalibaf, warned the president that any force would be met in kind.
“They had better watch their statements,” he said.
“Our armed forces are ready to respond in another way. Whatever they say, we are the ones who will act.”
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