Among its 20 signatories are Ali Karimi, who played 127 times for Iran, and three other former full internationals. They say several members of the football community have been arrested upon entering Iran for expressing their opinions and have had their passports confiscated. Karimi has become one of the most prominent sporting voices supporting Iran’s protest movement. Massoud Zatparvar, a two-time World Classic Bodybuilding champion, died during protests in the city of Rasht in Gilan province in northwestern Iran. “All they try to do is to create fear,” said one source in Iran who did not want to be named.

Source: The Guardian January 26, 2026 23:13 UTC