Trump warns Australia 'is making a terrible humanitarian mistake' over Iranian women's soccer team

President Donald Trump offered a stark informing to the Australian authorities connected Monday arsenic the Iranian women’s shot squad is slated to instrumentality location pursuing the Women’s Asian Cup.

The squad faces uncertainty arsenic warfare broke retired portion they were successful Australia for the tournament. Amid concerns for subordinate welfare, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the authorities to support the squad members portion they’re successful the country.

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Iran players respond during their nationalist anthem up of the Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer betwixt Iran and the Philippines successful Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Trump weighed successful with a station connected Truth Social.

"Australia is making a unspeakable humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer squad to beryllium forced backmost to Iran, wherever they volition astir apt beryllium killed," helium wrote. "Don’t bash it, Mr. Prime Minister, springiness ASYLUM. The U.S. volition instrumentality them if you won’t."

Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt ⁠Thistlethwaite was asked whether the state would assistance the Iranian players asylum but said the authorities could not "go into idiosyncratic circumstances for privateness reasons."

Five Iranian women’s shot players reportedly defected with the assistance of police.

IRANIAN WOMEN'S SOCCER FANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AS TEAM APPEARS TO PIVOT ON NATIONAL ANTHEM STANCE

Iran supporters question flags during the Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer betwixt Iran and the Philippines successful Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)

The squad arrived successful Australia earlier Israel and the U.S. launched a associated violative against Iran connected Feb. 28. The strikes led to the decease of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iranian players refused to sing their nationalist anthem earlier an opening nonaccomplishment to South Korea past Monday, which was viewed by immoderate arsenic an enactment of resistance, which was dubbed by an Iranian commentator arsenic the "pinnacle of dishonor."

The squad didn’t clarify. But the players sang the anthem and saluted earlier their losses to Australia and the Philippines.

The Australian Iranian Council launched an online petition urging Australian authorities to "ensure that nary subordinate of Iran’s women’s nationalist shot squad is to depart Australia portion credible fears for their information remain."

"Where credible grounds exists that visiting athletes whitethorn look persecution, imprisonment, coercion, oregon worse upon return, soundlessness is not a neutral position," the petition read. "The existent wartime situation has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publically perceived by the Islamic Republic arsenic disloyal."

Iranian supporters show signs expressing enactment for U.S. President Donald Trump during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 shot lucifer betwixt Iran and Australia successful Gold Coast, Australia, connected March 5, 2026. (Izhar Khan / AFP via Getty Images)

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Iran caput manager Marziyeh Jafari was quoted arsenic saying connected Australia’s nationalist quality bureau that the squad wants "to travel backmost to Iran arsenic soon arsenic we can."

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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